U.S. Senator Dick Durbin will ask a bipartisan screening committee to meet again to assist in selecting a Federal District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois. At the end of February, Judge Joe Billy McDade took senior status, creating a third vacancy in the Central District. The other two vacancies were created by the announced retirements of Judge Michael Mihm and Judge Jeanne Scott, and Senator Durbin has previously submitted names to the President to fill those vacancies. Click here to apply for the federal judgeship. The application is nearly identical to the one used by the Senate Judiciary Committee and will help provide insight into potential nominees’ backgrounds and qualifications. The deadline for submission of completed applications is May 17, 2010. The screening committee will review the applications, interview applicants and references, and make multiple recommendations to Senator Durbin as quickly as possible.