Authority of Magistrate Judges

(a) In General. Magistrate judges are judicial officers of the court. Any magistrate judge of this district may perform any duty authorized or allowed by law to be performed by a magistrate judge. Except as otherwise provided by law, rule, or order of this court, the performance of a duty by a magistrate judge shall be in accordance with such other provisions of these rules as would apply if that duty were performed by a district judge.

A magistrate judge may determine any preliminary matters; require parties, attorneys, and witnesses to appear; require briefs, proofs, and argument; and conduct any hearing, conference, or other proceeding the magistrate judge deems appropriate in performing his or her duties. (b) Special Designation to Exercise Civil Consent Authority. Any magistrate judge of this district may, upon consent of the parties, conduct any or all proceedings in a civil matter and order entry of judgment in the matter. (See 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1 (c) Special Designation to Conduct Misdemeanor Trials.

Any magistrate judge of this district may try persons accused of misdemeanor offenses and sentence persons convicted of misdemeanor offenses. (See 18 U.S.C. § 3401)