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1. Designated Jurisdiction. The judges of this district designate the magistrate judge to conduct all proceedings in any civil matter upon the consent of the parties.
2. Methods of Assignment.
   1. Reassignment Following Request of Parties. Parties may consent to the reassignment of a case to a magistrate judge by filing a Notice, Consent, and Order of Reference form stating that the parties consent to the reassignment. This form should not be returned to the clerk of court unless all parties consent to the reassignment. The clerk shall notify the parties in all cases that they may consent to have the magistrate judge conduct all proceedings in any civil matter.
   2. Initial Assignment by the Clerk. The chief judge may authorize the clerk to initially assign cases to the magistrate judge on a random basis.
      1. Notification of Initial Assignment. The clerk shall inform the parties of the initial assignment by issuing a notice of assignment.
      2. Consent. A case initially assigned to the magistrate judge pursuant to this subsection shall be reassigned to a district judge unless all parties either affirmatively consent to the assignment or waive their right to object to the assignment. A party may object to the assignment by filing an objection within twenty (20) days after receiving notice of the initial assignment. The failure of a party to file an objection as required by this rule constitutes a waiver of the party's right to object to the assignment.
3. Construction With Other Laws. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), the right to have certain civil proceedings conducted by a judge, appointed pursuant to Article III of the United States Constitution, shall be preserved to the parties inviolate.

(§§ (b)(2)(A) and (B) amended 1/1/99; § (b)(1) amended 1/1/00; §§ (b)(1) and (2) amended 1/1/05)

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