LR 73 MAGISTRATE JUDGES — Trial by Consent (See Fed. R. Civ. P. 73)

LR 73.1 Duties and Powers (See Fed. R. Civ. P. 73)

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1), and subject to the consent of the parties, every full-time, part-time or recalled Magistrate Judge assigned to the District of Oregon is designated and authorized to exercise civil jurisdiction over all assigned cases, to include the entry of final judgment and the conduct of any court or jury trial.

LR 73.2 Accelerated Trial Scheduling

Unlike district judges who are assigned both civil and criminal cases, and by law must give scheduling priority to criminal cases, magistrate judges are only assigned civil cases. Consequently, when parties consent pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b), the assigned magistrate judge is able to set earlier and firmer trial dates than might otherwise be possible for a district judge.