What's A Magistrate Judge?

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.