Sens. David Perdue, R-Ga., (left) and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.

A committee appointed by Georgia's two senators is wasting no time in taking steps to replace U.S. District Judge Richard Story.

Story notified President Donald Trump last month that he will take senior status on Dec. 1. Beginning at age 65, a federal judge may retire at his or her current salary or take senior status after performing 15 years of active service. Judges who choose senior status may work full schedules or opt to reduce their hours and caseloads.

This week, the Federal Judicial Appointment Screening Committee began advertising for Story's replacement on the State Bar of Georgia's website.

Applications and questionnaires, available on the website, must be submitted by noon on Sept. 28. Anyone who has previously applied to the committee for earlier vacant federal judicial posts still needs to submit a new application and questionnaire. The committee has decided only to interview candidates for Story's post who have not previously applied or been interviewed. Interviews are slated for Oct. 2.

Story's decision to take senior status opens the fourth vacancy on the Northern District of Georgia for Trump to fill. The Northern District has 10 seats for active judges.

Last year, Trump appointed former Alston & Bird partner Mike Brown to the Northern District bench, a vacant post left from the Obama administration and has twice nominated Georgia Court of Appeals Judge William “Billy” Ray II to fill the vacancy that opened up when U.S. District Senior Judge Harold Murphy took senior status when he turned 90 last year.

Ray's nomination has been awaiting action by the Senate since January.

Last month, the White House nominated DeKalb County Superior Court Judge J.P. Boulee, a former law clerk of U.S. District Court Senior Judge Orinda Evans, to replace U.S. District Court Judge William Duffey Jr. Duffey, a former U.S. attorney appointed by George W. Bush in 2004, retired July 1.