Local Rule 72.1: Authority of United States Magistrate Judges

Rule 72.1 Authority of United States Magistrate Judges

(A) Duties Under 28 U.S.C. § 636; Effect of a Ruling by a Magistrate Judge.

(1) A magistrate judge is a judicial officer of the district court. All United States magistrate judges serving within the territorial jurisdiction of the Northern District of Florida have the authority conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 636 and may exercise all other powers and duties conferred or imposed by law and the federal procedure rules.

(2) A magistrate judge's ruling or order in a matter heard and determined by a magistrate judge is the court's ruling and will remain in effect unless and until reversed, vacated, modified, or stayed. The filing of a motion for reconsideration does not stay the magistrate judge's ruling or order.

(B) Designation for Trial of Misdemeanor Cases Upon Consent Under 18 U.S.C. § 3401. All United States magistrate judges serving within the territorial jurisdiction of the Northern District of Florida are hereby designated to try persons accused of, and sentence persons convicted of, misdemeanors and petty offenses committed within this District, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 3401 and Fed. R. Crim. P. 58.

(C) Designation for Trial of Civil Cases Upon Consent Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). With the consent of the parties, full-time magistrate judges are hereby designated to conduct civil trials, including the entry of final judgment.