A federal panel will accept applications through April 2 to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court bench here.

The Federal Judicial Selection Commission is screening applicants for the vacancy created when U.S. District Judge David Erza becomes a senior U.S. District judge on June 27 when he turns 65.

The commission will make recommendations to U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, who will submit names to the White House.  President Obama will appoint the new judge, subject to Senate approval.

The commission said it will keep confidential the names of candidates and their applications.

Individuals may submit names of others for the position.

Applications must be mailed or hand-delivered by April 2 to Hawaii Federal Judicial Selection Commission, c/o Lawrence S. Okinaga, Suite 2200 ASB Tower, 1001 Bishop St., Honolulu HI 96813.

Application forms are available at websites of  of the two senators (http://inouye.senate.gov/Constituent_Services/upload/HFJSCapplication.pdf and http://akaka.senate.gov/upload/hfjsc2012application.pdf) and the Hawaii State Bar Association (http://hsba.org/hfjsc2012application.aspx).