Status of Magistrate Judge Positions and Appointments — Judicial Business 2025

During this fiscal year, 69 appointments of full-time magistrate judges were made, including 39 new appointments and 30 reappointments. Four individuals were appointed to part-time magistrate judge positions, including one new appointment and three reappointments. In addition, 85 retired magistrate judges were recalled to service under 28 U.S.C. § 636(h).

The following information is provided pursuant to the reporting requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 604(d)(3). The average age of new appointees to full-time magistrate judge positions was 49 years; the average age of new appointees to part-time magistrate judge positions was 36 years. New full-time appointees had been members of the bar for an average of 21 years at the time of appointment; new part-time magistrate judge appointees had been members of the bar for an average of 9 years. Of the new full-time magistrate judges, at the time of their appointments, 14 had been in private practice, 12 had been assistant United States attorneys, 6 had been federal public defenders or assistant federal public defenders, 3 had been state court judges, 2 had been law clerks, 1 had been general counsel, and 1 had been a law school lecturer and judicial liaison.

Through September 2025, the Judicial Conference authorized 567 full-time magistrate judge positions, 24 part-time positions, and 2 combination clerk/magistrate judge positions.

For data on magistrate judge positions, see Table 12.