A nine-member panel will begin screening applicants for a U.S. District Court vacancy that will be created when U.S. District Judge David Ezra retires at end of June, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye’s office announced today.

Inouye and U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka will formally set up the panel, the Hawaii Federal Judicial Selection Commission, to provide the senators with a list of candidates, Inouye’s office said.

The senators will then make recommendations from that list to the White House, the office said.

President Barack Obama will make the appointment, subject to U.S. Senate confirmation.

Ezra will remain on the bench as a senior federal district judge.

Honolulu attorney Larry Okinaga will be chairman of the commisson.