Rule 1.8 - Criminal Magistrates(a) With the concurrence of a majority of the circuit court judges of a judicial circuit, the administrative judge of the judicial circuit may designate one or more district court judge(s), with the judge's consent, as a referee or master, who shall be referred to as a "criminal magistrate" for the judicial circuit, and who shall be authorized to perform any of the duties described in subsection (b) of this rule. A criminal magistrate shall be subject at all times to the superintending control of the circuit judges of the judicial circuit, and the criminal magistrate's territorial jurisdiction shall be coextensive to that of the circuit judges of the judicial circuit unless specifically limited by the designating order.(b) A criminal magistrate may perform the following duties with respect to an investigation or prosecution of an offense lying within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit court: (i) Issue a search warrant pursuant to Rule 13.1.(ii) Issue an arrest warrant pursuant to Rule 7.1 or Arkansas Code § 16-81-104, or issue a summons pursuant to Rule 6.1.(iii) Make a reasonable cause determination pursuant to Rule 4.1(e).(iv) Conduct a first appearance pursuant to Rule 8.1, at which the criminal magistrate may appoint counsel pursuant to Rule 8.2; inform a defendant pursuant to Rule 8.3; accept a plea of "not guilty" or "not guilty by reason of insanity"; conduct a pretrial release inquiry pursuant to Rules 8.4 and 8.5; or release a defendant from custody pursuant to Rules 9.1, 9.2, and 9.3.(v) Conduct a preliminary hearing as provided in Ark. Code Ann. § 16-93-307(a).(c) If a person is charged with the commission of an offense lying within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit court, a criminal magistrate designated pursuant to this rule may not accept or approve a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to the offense charged or to a lesser included offense.(d) Nothing in this order shall affect the authority of a district court judge to perform the duties described in subsection (b) as otherwise permitted by these Rules or other law.(e) Nothing in this rule shall impair or render ineffectual any proceeding or procedural matters which occurred before the effective date of this rule.Amended and effective by per curiam order Sep. 26, 2013.