Sep 17, 2025
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
IN RE: )
LIMITED CONSENT TO ) Administrative Order No. 416
MAGISTRATE JUDGE JURISDICTION. )
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois has entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Centurion. As outlined in the attached
MOU, Centurion has granted limited consent to the exercise of magistrate judge jurisdiction
in certain civil cases that require preliminary screening by the District Court. This MOU is
consistent with MOUs memorialized in Administrative Order 259 with the Office of the
Illinois Attorney General and Wexford Health Sources, Inc. The attached MOU is effective
immediately.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: September 17, 2025
___________________________
NANCY J. ROSENSTENGEL
Chief U.S. District Judge
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Limited Consent to Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction
1. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is between the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Illinois and Centurion.
2. This MOU pertains exclusively to civil cases against any provider working pursuant to
Centurion’s contract with the Illinois Department of Corrections who is sued by a
private plaintiff who is either (1) incarcerated and asserting a claim under 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 that must be initially screened by the District Court under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A;
or (2) not incarcerated but requests in forma pauperis status, a request that must be
initially screened by the District Court under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(a) and 1915(e)(2). This
MOU does not pertain to civil cases against any Centurion official or employee that
seek immediate injunctive relief without notice to the defendants; those cases will
remain with the assigned District Judge for resolution of the claim for injunctive relief.
3. In cases described in paragraph 2, and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Federal Rule
of Civil Procedure 73, Centurion enters a limited consent to the exercise of
jurisdiction by a United States Magistrate Judge to: (1) conduct the initial screen
described in 28 U.S.C. § 1915A and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(a) & 1915(e)(2), including
but not limited to, dismissal of the complaint or any portion of the complaint;
(2) deny a motion for injunctive relief in the initial screen; and (3) involuntarily
dismiss an action before the initial screen.
4. If any part of the case survives initial screening, the limited consent described in
paragraph 3 will be deemed withdrawn, and the surviving portion of the case will
proceed like all other screened cases, including: (1) either the delivery of a copy of
the complaint and requests for waiver of service of summons on the individual
defendants, or the issuance and service of summons and a copy of the complaint on
the individual defendants; (2) the requirement for the individual defendants to
request representation by Centurion; and (3) a restarting of the process under
28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73 to allow the parties to
decide whether to consent to the continued exercise of jurisdiction by a United States
Magistrate Judge.
5. As provided in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73(b)(2), and on the Court’s consent
forms, any party is free to withhold consent without adverse consequences.
6. This MOU may be terminated by either party on 60 days’ written notice.
DATED: September 17, 2025
______________________________________ ______________________________
____________________
NANCY J. ROSENSTENGEL, Chief Judge DEANA JOHNSON
United States District Court Executive Vice President and
for the Southern District of Illinois Chief Legal Officer
Centurion of Illinois, LLC
