Starting July 7, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana will implement a new order changing how civil cases are assigned—expanding the role of Magistrate Judges.
Most civil cases will now be randomly assigned to either a District or Magistrate Judge. If a Magistrate Judge is assigned, parties will receive a notice after the initial scheduling order and have 21 days to consent to the Magistrate Judge handling the entire case, including trial. If all parties consent, the Magistrate Judge will oversee all proceedings. If any party declines, the case goes to a District Judge, with the Magistrate Judge assisting with pretrial matters.
The court highlights Magistrate Judges as vital to timely and efficient case resolution. Because they don’t have to prioritize criminal cases, they can often move civil cases faster, saving time and cost.