(a) Application to Rule. This rule applies to all United States magistrate judges,
including full-time magistrate judges, part-time magistrate judges, and magistrate judges
recalled pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §636(h).
(b) Authority of Magistrate Judges. Magistrate judges are judicial officers. They are
authorized and specially designated to perform all duties authorized by the United States
Code and any rule governing proceedings in this court. Magistrate judges are authorized to
perform the duties enumerated in these rules in cases assigned to the magistrate judge by
rule, by court order, or by order or special designation of any of the court’s district judges.
