U.S. Rep. and Democratic City Committee Chairman Bob Brady received a check Sunday night from Democratic Women of Philadelphia, a fundraising arm of the Democratic City Committee, at their annual Christmas party in South Philly.

Was the contribution for the 2007 mayoral campaign he's being urged to enter? No. The donation was for Brady's re-election to Congress next year.

Meanwhile, Brady has been trying to identify Democrats to send over to Gov. Ed Rendell for consideration as a Supreme Court justice appointment to serve until the next appellate election in 2007. The newly appointed justice, most likely a Democrat, will replace Justice Russell Nigro, who lost his retention vote in last month's general election. Brady said he hasn't found anyone yet because the appointee would only serve out the remainder of the term and would have to agree not to run for the office.

So, what about Superior Court Judge Seamus McCaffery, who has made no secret of his plans to run for the higher court? McCaffery was going to run in 2009 after Justice Sandra Schultz Newman reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70 in 2008. Now he may run for Nigro's seat.

Newman, like Nigro, was up for a retention vote but managed to pull enough votes to keep her job.

Brady said he thinks Nigro will want some senior judgeship on another appellant bench, such as Superior or Commonwealth, but appointment to that status must happen while he still sits on the Supreme Court.

As for Brady, he is said to be U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's choice to take the senator's seat should he retire early.

The new chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association wants to make judicial independence one of his top priorities.

Alan M. Feldman will become the 79th chancellor at year's end, succeeding Andrew Chirls, the bar's first openly gay chancellor. Feldman plans to use the yearlong position to lobby for judicial independence.

"Judges should be independent and not make rulings based on public opinion or the whims of the day. That is very dangerous," he said, citing the Terri Schiavo case. "That was a family matter and the legislature got in the way."

Feldman supports merit selection instead of electing state judges. "Look what happened to Justice Nigro," he said. "He got voted out for no reason. I support the Senate bill introduced by Sens. Vincent Fumo and Anthony Williams."

Senate Bill 100, introduced in July, would amend the state constitution to adopt a new judicial selection system in Philadelphia. A nonpartisan citizen-based panel would recommend candidates.

Feldman also wants to lobby law firms to provide more services to clients who can't pay.

Hill Solutions, the lobbying firm started by Eric Weinberg and Jack Tomarchio, merged with über law firm Buchanan Ingersoll in October and celebrated with a holiday party at the Union League Monday night. Buchanan expects Hill will provide a boost to their governmental-relations component and increase their revenues.

Weinberg said he will concentrate on Washington while Tomarchio will focus on local clients.

The party was swanky with a cadre of lawyers and other personalities milling around. Guests included City Councilman Jim Kenney, Donna Gentile O'Donnell and Sunoco lobbyist Albert Knoll, son of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll.

While Rendell has no Democratic opposition in next year's gubernatorial primary, Catherine Baker Knoll faces a phalanx of opposition. (This is unheard of because normally the lieutenant governor has little to do, but must be up-to-speed on all matters should the governor resign or be unable to serve.)

The lieutenant governor has taken over leadership twice in this state. Mark Singel stepped up when Gov. Bob Casey Sr. underwent a heart and liver transplant and Mark Schweiker became governor when Tom Ridge resigned to head up the Department of Homeland Security.

Baker Knoll possibly faces two high-profile candidates in the primary: former state Treasurer Barbara Hafer and former U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel. Hafer was once a Republican and wanted to run against Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum next year but was asked by Rendell to step aside in favor of Bob Casey Jr. Allegheny Recorder of Deeds Valerie McDonalds Roberts is also definitely running.

Of course, this all becomes moot if a bill passes in the state Senate allowing the gubernatorial candidate to choose the lieutenant governor candidate.

The Pennsylvania Society, an annual gathering of Pennsylvania's political elite, meets again in New York this weekend. Hot parties include Local 98 businessman John Dougherty's Friday night gig at the Waldorf, which will go off at the same time, and place, as the Gov. Mifflin party, hosted by David Urban, Gregg Melinson, a number of other Republicans, and Weinberg, who is not a Republican. Bob Casey Jr. is having a fundraiser at the hotel earlier.

Last week's column incorrectly stated that Nigro is the only Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice from Philadelphia. Ron Castille is also from the city.