BOISE (AP) - Idaho's U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are looking for people interested in becoming the state's next federal district judge.

U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge is taking senior status, a semi-retirement in which he will continue to serve the court but with a reduced caseload. The move means that Idaho could soon have its first new federal judge since 1995, when current U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill took the bench.

Federal judges are appointed by the president, and typically the president works with a member of the state's delegation during the appointment process. Lindsay Nothern, spokesman for Crapo said the two Idaho senators have informed the White House they are starting the search process.

"We've had some interest," Nothern said.

President Barack Obama will name the next judge, and there's no guarantee he'll pick the Idaho GOP senators' nominee, but the Senate does confirm the choice and generally defers to the state's Senate delegation on the pick.

Crapo's office says the ideal nominee would be someone "amenable to both parties."

Interested applicants can contact Crapo's or Risch's office for a questionnaire. The questionnaire collects details on education, employment record, honors or awards, bar and court admission, potential conflicts of interest, political activities and affiliations, and any volunteer legal work.

"I don't know that we have specific credentials in mind," Nothern said. "It's just really a process to get names, to get folks into a queue so they can be evaluated."

The job is a lifetime appointment, and it pays $199,100 a year.