RULE 59.1 DUTIES OF MAGISTRATE JUDGES
A magistrate judge shall have or may be assigned the following duties and
responsibilities:
(a) Upon the filing of an information, complaint, or violation notice, or the return
of an indictment, all misdemeanor cases shall be assigned to a magistrate judge, who
shall proceed in accordance with the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 3401 and Fed. R. Crim. P.
58;
(b) A magistrate judge shall have or may also be assigned the following duties
and responsibilities:
(1) Accept petit criminal verdicts upon request of a district judge;
(2) Accept returns of grand juries upon request of a district judge;
(3) Accept guilty pleas in felony cases upon request of a district judge
and consent of the defendant.
(4) Conduct pretrial/posttrial motions in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §
636(b)(1)(A)(B) and (C);
(5) Conduct pretrial conferences in accordance with Fed. R. Crim. P.
17.1;
(6) Issue subpoenas, writs of habeas corpus ad testificandum or habeas
corpus ad prosequendum or other orders necessary to obtain the presence
of parties, witnesses or evidence needed for court proceedings; and
(7) Perform any additional duty consistent with the Constitution and laws
of the United States.
