(AP) — A U.S. district judge has announced his intention to take senior status, creating an opening on the federal bench in Omaha.

Judge Joseph Bataillon (buh-TAL’-yuhn) says he’ll maintain a full caseload after he takes senior status on Oct. 3 next year.

Chief District Judge Laurie Smith Camp says she’s grateful that Bataillon “has chosen to remain with the court in senior status, continuing to build on his impressive legacy.”

Bataillon has been one of Nebraska’s three regular district judges since October 1997, after being selected by President Bill Clinton and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Nebraska has three senior judges: Warren Urbom, Richard Kopf and Lyle Strom.

Bataillon’s replacement will be nominated by President Barack Obama, typically after conferring with Nebraska’s two U.S. senators, Mike Johanns and Deb Fischer.