ASSIGNMENT OF CASES TO UNITED

STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES (a) Designation of Jurisdiction. The district judges may designate and authorize the United States magistrate judges for this district to conduct, with the consent of the parties, any and all proceedings in a jury or non- jury civil matter, including determination of all pretrial, trial, post-trial and dispositive motions, and order the entry of judgment in the case without further order of the court. Nothing in these rules shall preclude a district judge from reserving any proceedings to be conducted by him or her. The court may modify the designation of jurisdiction or duties assigned to magistrate judges in this district as conditions may warrant.

The court may also, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §636(c)(4), vacate a referral of a civil matter to a magistrate judge for good cause. (b) Consent to Order of Reference. At the time a civil action or notice of removal is filed, the clerk shall deliver to the filing party or counsel, if so represented, (i) a notice of the party's right to consent to the exercise of a magistrate judge's jurisdiction to conduct any or all proceedings and order the entry of judgment, and (ii) a consent form for execution by all the parties. -48- RULE 77 CONDUCTING BUSINESS; CLERK’S AUTHORITY (a) Office Hours. The clerk’s office will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:45 p.m. each day, except Saturdays, Sundays, and court-observed holidays.

(b) Access to Electronic Records. Access to the court’s civil and criminal electronic docket, opinions, rules, and notices is available via the court’s web site (www.prd.uscourts.gov) or the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), an electronic retrieval system that provides criminal and civil summaries and docket information using a computer terminal (http://pacer.prd.uscourts.gov). PACER is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (c) Filings.

The clerk’s office will docket papers which are filed electronically or, upon leave of court, original papers which may be delivered to the clerk’s office main facilities at the Federico Degetau Federal Building in Hato Rey, or to its satellite office at the José V. Toledo U.S. Courthouse in Old San Juan. (d) Orders by the Clerk. The clerk may issue the following orders without further direction of the court: (1) orders allowing extensions of not more than five (5) pages of the page limitations established in these rules; (2) orders granting a first extension of time not to exceed thirty (30) days. -49- RULE 77A COMMUNICATIONS WITH JUDGES Unless the court orders otherwise, parties and their counsel shall not correspond or otherwise communicate with a judge regarding a pending matter unless all other parties are present or have expressly consented. Communications with the court shall be by means of a filed written motion. -50-