FILED
2022 JUNE 21
CLERK
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF UTAH
IN THE MATTER OF MAGISTRATE GENERAL ORDER
JUDGE AVAILABILITY IN CIVIL CASES
22-009
The Court has entered several General Orders, under 28 U.S.C. § 636 (c), to
provide parties with notice of the availability of a magistrate judge to preside over a
case, subject to the parties’ consent, until completion of the matter and entry of a
judgment.
In 2007 General Order 07-001 established a pilot program to assign some civil
cases to magistrate judges. The pilot program was a success. General Order 11-001
superseded General Order 07-001 and continued the assignment of some civil cases, to
magistrate judges. General Order 20-034 addressed assignment of non-prisoner pro se
civil cases to magistrate judges. General Order 21-005 addressed assignment of cases
seeking review of Social Security appeals cases to magistrate judges.
Under each General Order, parties must return a form (Consent Form) to the
Clerk’s Office indicating their consent to the magistrate judge or requesting
reassignment to a district judge. General Orders 11-001, 20-034, and 21-005, however,
establish differing deadlines for parties to return the Consent Form. It is cumbersome to
manage and track the various deadlines under each of the relevant General Orders.
Standardizing the due date in which the parties must return the Consent Form will
facilitate the district’s ongoing case management. The 21-day deadline established in
General Order 21-005 will be used.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. The Clerk’s Office will continue to include all full-time magistrate judges
in the civil case assignment process in a proportionate basis.
2. The Clerk’s Office will continue to send the Consent Form to parties in
civil cases, except cases that are exempt under General Orders 11-001 and 20-034.
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3. After the Clerk’s Office sends the Consent Form to a party, the party
must return it to the Clerk’s Office within 21 days.
4. This General Order takes effect on July 5, 2022, and supersedes
deadlines stated in General Orders 11-001 and 20-034.
5. The court directs the Advisory Committee on the Local Rules of Practice
to consider enacting a local rule consistent with this General Order when the local
rules are next amended.
SO ORDERED this 21st day of June, 2022.
BY THE COURT:
_____________________________________
ROBERT J. SHELBY
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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