§ 636(c).
(A) Notice. Unless otherwise directed by the court, the clerk of court shall
notify the parties in all civil cases that they may consent to have a
magistrate judge conduct any and all proceedings in the case and order the
entry of a final judgment. Notice may be provided by attachment of an
appropriate form document to the scheduling order or pre-scheduling order.
In categories of cases in which scheduling orders are not generally issued
(i.e., cases exempt under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(B)) and that are not
exempted by the court from this requirement, the clerk of court will forward
the notice to all parties after a defendant appears.
(B) Execution of Consent. The parties may consent by submitting a proposed
consent to reference signed by all parties.
(C) Approval. After the consent forms have been signed and filed, the clerk of
court shall transmit a proposed order of reference to the district judge to
whom the case has been assigned for approval in his or her discretion.
RULES BY DISTRICT COURT
ATTORNEYS AND STUDENT PRACTICE
