Notice Consent and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge - almd uscourts 2026

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The document is a notice and consent form for parties involved in a civil action, allowing them to voluntarily refer their case to a United States magistrate judge. It outlines the magistrate judge's authority to conduct all proceedings, including trials and final judgments, and emphasizes that consent can be withheld without negative consequences. The form includes sections for party names, signatures, and a reference order from a district judge.

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Click ‘Get Form’ to open it in the editor.
Begin by entering the names of the Plaintiff and Defendant in the designated fields at the top of the form.
Fill in the Civil Action Number, which is essential for identifying your case.
Review the notice section regarding the magistrate judge’s availability. This informs you about their authority and your rights concerning consent.
In the consent section, clearly print the names of all parties consenting to have a magistrate judge conduct proceedings. Ensure that each party signs and dates their consent.
Complete the Reference Order section by including the date and having a District Judge sign, if applicable.
Finally, ensure that all parties have consented before returning this form to the Clerk of court as instructed.

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Versions	Form popularity	Fillable & printable
2017	4.8 Satisfied (113 Votes)
2009	4.7 Satisfied (51 Votes)

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Got questions?

We have answers to the most popular questions from our customers. If you can't find an answer to your question, please contact us.

Who has more power, a judge or a magistrate?

While judges possess broader authority in higher courts, magistrates serve essential functions in lower and subordinate courts. The court system enables qualified magistrates to progress through merit-based advancement to judicial positions.

Is it worth it to clerk for a magistrate judge?

Magistrate clerkships are very valuable and can lead to picking up an AIII clerkship. Some judges from my area tend to hire MJ clerks after one-year, and they seem to have pretty good placement with the BigLaw firms around here.

What does it mean when a case is referred to a magistrate judge?

A referral is the process by which the presiding district judge directs a magistrate judge to handle a portion of the case. There are 2 types of referrals: an A and a B. An A referral allows a magistrate judge to handle all pretrial, non-dispositive motions (e.g., discovery-related motions).

What does consent to magistrate mean?

A consent means that the magistrate judge will handle the case for all purposes, including through trial.

What is consent to magistrate judge?

If the parties consent to magistrate judge jurisdiction, the case will remain with the assigned magistrate judge from start to finish. As with the Voluntary Consent program, the magistrate judge in a Direct Assignment case will handle all motions, scheduling issues, and the trial in the case.