Nine candidates, including current judges, prosecutors and private attorneys, are in the running to replace Judge Edward P. Nickinson, who has been a judge in the First Circuit since January 1990 and is scheduled to retire June 30th. The Judicial Nominating Commission will start public interviews next week to choose his replacement. Applicants were required to have been members of the Florida Bar for the last five years, be registered voters and reside in the jurisdiction of the court at the time of assuming office.