ALBANY - A list of 16 applicants will be considered by the state Legislature to fill the state attorney general post, according to an Assembly Democrat.

The acting-attorney general, a member of Congress and two Assembly members are on the list that was distributed to legislators on Saturday afternoon by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. An interview process for vetting candidates, which was crafted by Assembly Democrats, will start on Tuesday, but there isn't a schedule for selecting a successor.

The list was first reported by NY1.

Acting-Attorney General Barbara Underwood, who took over the post on Tuesday, is vying to fill the term for the rest of the year. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who appointed her solicitor general in 2007, is supporting her for the position.

On Tuesday, he said, "Short term, I think the office is in find hands."

The list of candidates includes:

1. Thomas J. Abinanti
2. Lloyd Constantine
3. Michael D. Diederich, Jr.
4. Jose W. Fernandez
5. Nicole Gueron
6. Elizabeth Holtzman
7. Thomas Humbach
8. Doris Ling-Cohan
9. Daniel J. O'Donnell
10. Sean Patrick Maloney
11. Mina Quinto Malik
12. Leecia Roberta Eve
13. Jennifer P. Stergion
14. Barbara D. Underwood
15. David Yassky
16. Alex Zapesochny

The state Public Officers Law gives the Legislature the authority to fill the vacancy created by Schneiderman's resignation. Heastie has maintained that the Legislature must appoint someone to the post, but he has not said when it needs to happen.

The timing of an interim appointment is complicated by the political conventions for the major parties, which are scheduled for less than two weeks from now.

Jay Jacobs, the Democratic chairman for Nassau County, where the state party convention will be held, said on Wednesday that it's unlikely that Assembly Democrats will pick a Schneiderman replacement before the gathering, given that the candidate interviews are only being conducted the week beforehand.

The eight-member interview committee, which was created by Heastie, includes four Assembly Democrats, two Assembly Republicans and two Senate Democrats. The Senate Republicans are foregoing this process.

"We may come at it from a different angle, but we are absolutely going to be part of the process," Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan said on Wednesday.

David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87