California Consent to Proceed Before a United States Magistrate Judge and Designation

A judge or magistrate judge recalled under this section may exercise all of the powers and duties of the office of judge or magistrate judge held at the time of retirement, including the ability to serve in any other judicial district to the extent applicable, but may not engage in the practice of law or engage in any

A judge may designate a magistrate judge to hear and determine any pretrial matter pending before the court, except a motion for injunctive relief, for judgment on the pleadings, for summary judgment, to dismiss or quash an indictment or information made by the defendant, to suppress evidence in a criminal case, to

Magistrates have fewer and more limited powers than judges. They can hear different types of cases. Judges generally hear larger, more complex cases while magistrates hear smaller matters such as petty crime and traffic offenses.There is a difference between the power given to a judge over a magistrate.

- Magistrate has limited jurisdiction over a judge. - Judicial Magistrate and Chief Judicial Magistrate are appointed by the High Court while the Governor appoints the District Magistrate.

In criminal proceedings, magistrate judges preside over misdemeanor and petty offense cases, and as to all criminal cases (felony and misdemeanor) may issue search warrants, arrest warrants, and summonses, accept criminal complaints, conduct initial appearance proceedings and detention hearings, set bail or other

While district judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate for lifetime tenure, magistrate judges are appointed by a majority vote of the federal district judges of a particular district and serve terms of eight years if full-time, or four years if part-time, and may be reappointed.

A U.S. magistrate judge is a judicial officer of the district court and is appointed by majority vote of the active district judges of the court to exercise jurisdiction over matters assigned by statute as well as those delegated by the district judges.

A district judge who is thinking of referring a dispositive motion should instead encourage full or limited consent by the parties for the magistrate judge to decide the motion. Many district courts no longer refer dis- positive motions to magistrate judges as a means of making better use of their magistrate judges.