UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
Referral Order RG‐72‐2
Civil Actions Assigned to Judge Rodney Gilstrap
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §636 and Local Rule CV-72, it is ORDERED:
CASES REFERRED:
1. 50% of all civil actions filed in the Marshall Division that are assigned to the undersigned
District Judge are hereby referred to U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy Payne for all pretrial
proceedings.
2. 100% of all civil actions filed in the Texarkana Division that are assigned to the
undersigned District Judge are hereby referred to U.S. Magistrate Judge James Boone
Baxter for all pretrial proceedings.
PRETRIAL PROCEEDINGS:
3. The magistrate judges listed above will handle all pretrial proceedings in cases referred under
Paragraphs 1 through 2. This shall include:
a. To hear and determine all matters within the magistrate judge’s dispositive jurisdiction;
b. To proceed in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(1)(B) and (C) concerning matters
excepted from the magistrate judge’s dispositive jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(1)(A); and
c. After the magistrate judge has conducted the pretrial conference, in those cases in which
the parties have not consented to trial before the magistrate judge, the magistrate judge shall issue a
report to the undersigned indicating that the case is ready for jury selection and trial. Upon receipt of
the report, the referral under Paragraphs 1 through 2 shall be withdrawn, and the case shall be returned
to the undersigned for all further proceedings and entry of judgment.
CONSENT:
4. Upon receipt of signed consent forms by all parties, the case shall be reassigned to the
magistrate judge, who will conduct all proceedings, including jury and non-jury trials and order
the entry of judgment.
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REFERRAL PROCEDURE:
5. In the event of recusal or other disqualification of the magistrate judge in a case referred and
assigned under this order, the case shall return automatically to the docket of the undersigned, subject
to further orders of the court.
6. Case referrals pursuant to Paragraphs 1 through 2, case reassignments under Paragraph 4, and
withdrawals of referrals under Paragraphs 3 and 5 shall be effected automatically under this order.
Absent special circumstances, case-specific orders of reference, reassignment, and withdrawals shall
not be entered.
7. This order does not affect General Orders 05-4, 05-5, 05-6 and 05-7 or other established
procedures for referral to magistrate judges of special category cases (e.g., preliminary motions to
proceed in forma pauperis and for appointment of counsel in Title VII cases, prisoner cases, matters
on the miscellaneous docket, etc.)
8. Nothing herein shall preclude reference of additional matters to the magistrate judge or the
withdrawal of references in cases subject to this order whenever appropriate.
This referral order supersedes its predecessor, Referral Order RG-72-1.
So ORDERED and Effective as of the 5th day of July, 2022.
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RODNEY GILSTRAP
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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