Eastern District of Kentucky
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FILED
EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
IN RE: ) Robert R. Carr
) Clerk, U.S. District Court
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASE )
ASSIGNMENTS FOR UNITED ) GENERAL ORDER NO. 25-18
STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES )
)
)
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The district judges of the Court being in agreement, and effective January 1, 2026,
IT IS ORDERED as follows:
1. This Order VACATES and REPLACES General Order No. 23-10 governing
civil and criminal case assignments for United States Magistrate Judges in this District.
2. Regardless of the docket to which the case is assigned, and with the exception
of death penalty cases which are referred by the Administrative Order regarding Death Penalty
Cases, all (i) motions to vacate, correct or modify a sentence brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
2255; (ii) pro se civil rights cases; (iii) civil cases brought by or on behalf of prisoners; and
(iv) petitions for writs of habeas corpus brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, shall be divided
equally by a blind rotating draw and referred among full-time United States Magistrate Judges
Edward B. Atkins, Candace J. Smith, Hanly A. Ingram, and Matthew A. Stinnett.
3. a. Subject to paragraph 2 above, all other civil cases on the Ashland docket
shall be referred to Magistrate Judge Atkins. Should Magistrate Judge Atkins recuse, the case
shall be reassigned to Magistrate Judge Smith. Should both Magistrates Judge Atkins and
Smith recuse, the case shall be reassigned to Magistrate Judge Stinnett.
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b. Subject to paragraph 2 above, all other criminal cases on the Ashland docket
shall be referred by blind draw to Magistrate Judge Atkins (50%) and Magistrate Judge Smith
(50%). Should Magistrate Judge Atkins recuse, the case shall be reassigned to Magistrate
Judge Smith. Should Magistrate Judge Smith recuse, the case shall be reassigned to Magistrate
Judge Atkins. Should both Magistrate Judges Atkins and Smith recuse, the case shall be
reassigned to Magistrate Judge Stinnett.
4. Subject to paragraph 2 above, all other civil and criminal cases on the Covington
docket shall be referred to Magistrate Judge Smith. Should Magistrate Judge Smith recuse, the
case shall be reassigned to Magistrate Judge Atkins. Should both Magistrate Judges Smith and
Atkins recuse, the case shall be reassigned to Magistrate Judge Stinnett.
5. Subject to paragraph 2 above, all other civil cases on the Frankfort docket shall
be referred to Magistrate Judge Atkins. Should Magistrate Judge Atkins recuse, the case shall
be reassigned to Magistrate Judge Stinnett. Should both Magistrate Judges Atkins and Stinnett
recuse, the case shall be reassigned to Magistrate Judge Smith.
6. Subject to paragraph 2 above, all other civil cases on the Lexington docket,
absent other agreement by the participating active and/or senior judges, shall be referred by
blind draw to Magistrate Judge Stinnett (80%) and Magistrate Judge Atkins (20%). Should
Magistrate Judge Stinnett recuse, the case shall be reassigned to Magistrate Judge Atkins.
Should Magistrate Judge Atkins recuse, the case shall be reassigned to Magistrate Judge
Stinnett. Should both Magistrate Judges Stinnett and Atkins recuse, the case shall be
reassigned to Magistrate Judge Ingram.
7. Subject to paragraph 2 above, all other criminal cases on the Frankfort and
Lexington dockets, absent other agreement by the participating active and/or senior judges,
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shall be referred by blind draw to Magistrate Judge Stinnett (70%) and Magistrate Judge Atkins
(30%). Should Magistrate Judge Stinnett recuse, the case shall be reassigned to Magistrate
Judge Atkins. Should both Magistrate Judges Stinnett and Atkins recuse, the case shall be
reassigned to Magistrate Judge Ingram.
8. Subject to paragraph 2 above, all other civil cases on the London docket shall
be referred to Magistrate Judge Ingram. Should Magistrate Judge Ingram recuse, the case shall
be reassigned to Magistrate Judge Atkins. Should both Magistrate Judges Ingram and Atkins
recuse, the case shall be reassigned to Magistrate Judge Stinnett.
9. Subject to paragraph 2 above, all other criminal cases on the London docket
shall be referred by blind draw to Magistrate Judge Ingram (80%) and Magistrate Judge Atkins
(20%). Should Magistrate Judge Ingram recuse, the case shall be reassigned to Magistrate
Judge Atkins. Should Magistrate Judge Atkins recuse, the case shall be reassigned to
Magistrate Judge Ingram. Should both Magistrate Judges Ingram and Atkins recuse, the case
shall be reassigned to Magistrate Judge Stinnett.
10. To the fullest extent possible, the United States Magistrate Judges for this
district shall conduct proceedings in all cases assigned to them at the location where the case
is docketed.
11. The United States Magistrate Judges for this district are authorized to reassign
any assigned case to another magistrate judge willing to accept it.
This 15th day of December, 2025.
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