Pennsylvania Consent, And Reference of A Civil Action to A Magistrate Judge is a legal process that allows a party to a civil action to consent to having the case decided by a magistrate judge instead of a United States District Judge. The consent must be in writing and signed by all parties in the case. There are two types of Pennsylvania Consent And Reference of A Civil Action to A Magistrate Judge: voluntary and mandatory. Voluntary consent is when the parties to the action choose to have the case decided by a magistrate judge. Mandatory consent is when a court orders that the case be heard by a magistrate judge. Regardless of which type of consent is used, all parties must agree to the decision before the case can be referred to a magistrate judge.