Journalist's Guide

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Glossary

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Judges

The district court's chief judge position is assigned based on length of service.

It is held by the longest-serving active judge from among those judges who are 64 years old or younger, have served for one year or more as a judge, and have not previously served as chief judge.

The chief judge serves for a term of seven years or to age 70, whatever comes first, and handles administrative matters related to operation of the clerk's office and the courthouse that do not require the attention of all the judges.

He or she generally carries a full caseload in addition to administrative duties. A chief judge does not receive any additional pay.

Magistrate judges are appointed by the U.S. district judges in each judicial district for a term of service of eight years (four years for part-time magistrate judges), which can be renewed. They hear the federal equivalent of misdemeanor cases – minor crimes committed on federal lands. They also handle preliminary matters in criminal cases, and are usually the first judicial officer a defendant sees following arrest or indictment. In most districts, magistrate judges also handle pretrial motions and hearings in civil cases and felony criminal cases; those cases are eventually turned over to district judges for trial. Magistrate judges may preside over civil trials if the parties consent. The job title is magistrate judge, not magistrate.

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