(a) Criminal Cases.
(1) Misdemeanor Cases. All misdemeanor cases will be assigned upon the
filing of an information, complaint, or violation notice, or the return of an
indictment to a magistrate judge, who will proceed in accordance with 18
U.S.C. § 3401 and the rules of procedure for the trial of misdemeanors.
(2) Felony Cases. Upon the return of an indictment or the filing of an
information or complaint, all felony cases will be assigned to a magistrate
judge for proceedings pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 5, the conduct of an
arraignment, acceptance of waivers of indictment pursuant to Fed. R. Crim.
P. 7(b), and such pretrial conferences as are necessary, and for the hearing
and determination of all pretrial procedural and discovery motions.
(b) Civil Cases. The clerk of the court will assign civil cases to a magistrate judge or
judge for the conduct of a Fed. R. Crim. P. 16(b) scheduling conference, the
issuance of a scheduling order, and such other pretrial conferences as are necessary
and appropriate, and for the hearing and determination of all pretrial, procedural,
and discovery motions. Where the parties consent to the trial and disposition of a
case by a magistrate judge under D. Kan. Rule 72.1.3, such case will, with the
approval of the judge to whom it was assigned at the time of filing, be reassigned
to a magistrate judge for the conduct of all further proceedings and the entry of
judgment.
(c) Reservation of Proceedings by Judges. Nothing in these rules precludes a judge
from reserving any proceedings for conduct by a judge, rather than by a magistrate
judge.
***
As amended 8/26/24.
