The District Judge may designate a Magistrate Judge to conduct pre-trial procedures, and
perform some or all duties conferred upon Magistrate Judges by 28 U.S.C. § 636(b). Requests for
review of a Magistrate Judge’s action shall be made in accordance with the Federal Rules and the
following:
(a) Nondispositive Matters. All orders of the Magistrate Judge authorized by 28 U.S.C. §
636(b)(1)(A) shall be effective unless and until a stay is obtained or the order is otherwise
reversed or vacated by the District Judge. In the event that a party files objections, the
specific matters to which the party objects and the manner in which it is claimed that the
order is clearly erroneous or contrary to law shall be clearly set out in the objections.
(b) Dispositive Motions and Prisoner Petitions. Written objections to proposed findings of
fact and recommendations for disposition submitted by a Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) shall specifically identify the portions of the proposed findings and
recommendations to which objection is made and the basis for each objection, and shall
be supported by legal authority. A party seeking additional time to file objections must
file a motion for an extension of time with the District Judge within fourteen (14) days
after being served with the Magistrate Judge’s recommended disposition.
(c) Certification. Any party filing objections to a Magistrate Judge’s order or recommended
disposition must include with the objections to the District Judge a written statement
either certifying that the objections do not raise new legal/factual arguments, or
identifying the new arguments and explaining why they were not raised to the Magistrate
Judge.
