(a) Designated Jurisdiction. The judges of this district designate a magistrate judge to
conduct all proceedings in any civil matter upon the consent of the parties.
(b) Methods of Assignment.
(1) Reassignment Following Request of Parties. Parties may consent to the
reassignment of a case to a magistrate judge by filing a Notice, Consent, and Order of
Reference form stating that the parties consent to the reassignment. This form should
not be returned to the clerk of court unless all parties consent to the reassignment. The
clerk shall notify the parties in all cases that they may consent to have a magistrate
judge conduct all proceedings in any civil matter.
(2) Initial Assignment by the Clerk. The chief judge may authorize the clerk to
randomly assign cases to a magistrate judge for all purposes, including trial, entry of
final judgment, and all post-judgment proceedings.
(A) Notification of Initial Assignment. The clerk shall inform the parties of the
initial assignment by issuing a notice of assignment and consent form.
(B) Consent. A case initially assigned to a magistrate judge pursuant to this
subsection shall be reassigned to a district judge unless all parties consent to the
assignment. A designated party shall file either a consent or declination of
consent on a form provided by the clerk in the manner and within the time frame
specified in the clerk’s notice. Any party is free to withhold consent without
adverse substantive consequences.
(c) Construction With Other Laws. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), the right to have
certain civil proceedings conducted by a judge, appointed pursuant to Article III of the United
States Constitution, shall be preserved to the parties inviolate.
(§§ (b)(2)(A) and (B) amended 1/1/99; § (b)(1) amended 1/1/00; §§ (b)(1) and (2) amended
1/1/05; § (b)(2)(B) amended 12/1/09; §§ (b)(2)(A)-(B) amended 12/1/11; §§ (a) and (b) amended
12/1/23)
X. DISTRICT COURTS AND CLERKS
