Local Rule Rule 72.1: GENERAL JURISDICTION AND DUTIES OF MAGISTRATE JUDGES

Rule 72.1 GENERAL JURISDICTION AND DUTIES OF MAGISTRATE JUDGES (Amended September 10, 2020)

The following general jurisdiction and duties shall be exercised by each Magistrate Judge appointed by the Court:

(A) The Magistrate Judge shall have jurisdiction over the entire District, with such official station as is fixed by the order of appointment.

(B) The Magistrate Judge shall perform all duties authorized by 28 U.S.C. Section 636(a), including, but not limited to, the exercise of all powers and duties previously conferred or imposed upon United States Commissioners, and may also conduct extradition proceedings, and exercise misdemeanor trial and sentencing jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. Section 3401.

(C) The Magistrate Judge shall have authority to assist the Judges of this Court in the conduct of civil and criminal proceedings in all respects contemplated by 28 U.S.C. Section 636(b)–(c), including, but not limited to, exercise of the following duties:

(1) The review and any necessary hearing of, and issuance of recommended decision on, any motion for injunctive relief, to suppress evidence, to permit or to refuse class action maintenance, to dismiss or for summary judgment, or any other similar application in civil or criminal cases potentially dispositive of a claim or defense;

(2) The review, any necessary hearing, and determination of nondispositive motions, including, but not limited to, those relating to discovery and other matters of procedure;

(3) The review and any necessary hearing of, and issuance of recommended decision on, any prisoner petitions challenging conditions of confinement and any applications for post-conviction relief, such review process to the extent pertinent to include also the issuance of preliminary orders and the conduct of incidental proceedings;

(4) The conduct of pretrial conferences; and

(5) Service as a special master in any appropriate proceedings on order of reference, and a special master reference may be made by consent of the parties without regard to the limiting provisions of Rule 53(b), Fed.R.Civ.P.; trial or other disposition of a civil case by the Magistrate Judge on consent of the parties is further expressly authorized in accordance with 28 U.S.C. Section 636(c) and L.R. 73 infra.

(D) The Magistrate Judge shall have authority to perform such additional miscellaneous duties as are contemplated by the laws of the United States, rules of procedure governing District Courts, and local court rules and plans, and may also be assigned such other additional duties, not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States, as the Court may hereafter require.