GENERAL AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF A MAGISTRATE JUDGE

GENERAL AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF A MAGISTRATE JUDGE (a) General Authority. Except as restricted by these rules, a magistrate judge may exercise all powers and duties authorized by federal statutes, regulations, and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (b) Duties. A magistrate judge may: (1) issue administrative inspection warrants; (2) issue civil seizure warrants under 21 U.S.C. § 881 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 981- 983; 21 (3) (4) issue search and seizure warrants for levy under the Internal Revenue Code; act on post judgment matters arising under Fed. R. Civ. P. 69, including the authority to: (A) issue writs; (B) (C) (D) issue orders directing funds to be paid into or disbursed from the registry of the court; hold hearings and make recommendations to the district judge on substantive issues including the liability of a party under a writ of garnishment or execution; and perform duties specified in chapter 176 of Title 28 United States Code, as assigned by the court under the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act, 28 U.S.C. § 3008; (5) make determinations and enter appropriate orders under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, except to enter an order denying a request to proceed in forma pauperis; (6) perform duties set forth in D.C.COLO.LCivR 8.1; (7) exercise contempt authority as authorized by law; (8) issue administrative subpoenas as authorized by law; (9) appoint masters under Fed. R. Civ. P. 53; (10) transfer cases on direct assignment under D.C.COLO.LCivR 40.1(d)(4).

(11) issue orders on motions to treat a document as a highly sensitive document; and (12) issue other orders as authorized by law. (c) Other Duties. On reference or order by a district judge, a magistrate judge may: (1) conduct pretrial conferences, post-trial proceedings, early neutral evaluations, settlement conferences, other alternative dispute resolution proceedings, and other nondispositive pretrial proceedings; 22 (2) act on petitions to perpetuate testimony under Fed. R. Civ. P. 27; (3) hold hearings and make recommendations on dispositive matters; and (4) make determinations and enter orders or recommendations on discovery disputes in cases pending in other federal courts or courts of another country.