Magistrate Judges: Authority.

(a) Notice. A United States magistrate judge may conduct some or all proceedings in a civil action (including a motion or trial) and order the entry of a final judgment if all parties voluntarily consent. After a case is initially assigned, the parties may, 45 subject to approval of a district judge, consent to a particular magistrate judge by designating the name of such magistrate judge in the consent form. (b) Execution of Consent.

Unless otherwise ordered, the clerk shall not accept a consent form unless it has been signed by all the parties or their respective counsel in a case. The parties shall be responsible for securing the execution of a consent form by all parties or their respective counsel and for filing such form with the clerk. All consents to trial by a magistrate judge shall be filed as soon as practicable, preferably before any ruling on a dispositive motion. (c) Even without consent, a magistrate judge is authorized to: (1) Exercise general supervision of the civil calendars, conduct calendar and status calls, and determine motions to expedite or postpone the trial of cases for the district judge; (2) Conduct pretrial conferences, settlement conferences, omnibus hearings, and related pretrial proceedings in civil cases; (3) Issue subpoenas or other orders necessary to obtain the presence of parties, witnesses, or evidence needed for court proceedings; (4) Order the exoneration or forfeiture of bonds; (5) Conduct proceedings for the collection of civil penalties of not more than $200.00 assessed under 46 U.S.C. §§ 4311(d) and/or 12309(c); (6) Conduct examinations of judgment debtors in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 69; (7) Conduct naturalization hearings; (8) Grant motions to dismiss in civil cases when authorized by statute or rule and when such dismissal is within the jurisdiction of the magistrate judge; (9) Conduct extradition proceedings in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 3184; and (10) Perform any additional duty not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States.

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