Local Rule LR IB 2-2: SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR THE DISPOSITION OF CIVIL CASES BY A UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE ON CONSENT OF THE PARTIES—28 U.S.C. § 636(c)

LR IB 2-2. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR THE DISPOSITION OF CIVIL CASES BY A UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE ON CONSENT OF THE PARTIES—28 U.S.C. § 636(c)

(a) Unless the court orders otherwise, the clerk must notify the parties in all civil cases that they may consent to have a magistrate judge conduct any or all proceedings in the case and order the entry of a final judgment. The clerk must serve the notice on all parties at the time of the filing of the scheduling order required by LR 26-1(a). Additional notices may be furnished to the parties at later stages of the proceedings and may be included with pretrial notices and instructions.

(b) After consent forms have been executed and submitted by all parties, the clerk must transmit the case and the consent forms to the district judge to whom the case has been assigned to consider referral of the case to a magistrate judge. If the case is referred to a magistrate judge, the magistrate judge will have the authority to conduct any and all proceedings to which the parties have consented and to direct the clerk to enter a final judgment in the same manner as if a district judge had presided.

(c) Parties may consent to a trial by a magistrate judge up to the date of trial even though they may have previously declined to sign such a consent.

(d) Parties may consent to have a magistrate judge hear all or any portions of a case pending before the district judge.