Opinion
No. C-11-5225 MMC
11-16-2011
DEBRA A. MELANCON, Plaintiff, v. MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Defendant.
ORDER DIRECTING DEFENDANT TO INFORM COURT WHETHER HE CONSENTS TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE FOR ALL PURPOSES
In cases initially assigned to a district judge, the parties may consent at any time to reassignment of the case to a magistrate judge for all purposes, including entry of final judgment. See Civil L.R. 73-1(b). On October 28, 2011, plaintiff Debra A. Melancon voluntarily consented to have a United States Magistrate Judge conduct any and all further proceedings in the case, including trial, and order entry of a final judgment. Accordingly, defendant Michael J. Astrue is hereby DIRECTED to advise the Court, no later than December 2, 2011, as to whether he consents to have a magistrate judge conduct all further proceedings in the instant action.
Normally, the Court would direct the parties to so inform the Court in their Joint Case Management Statement filed in connection with a case management conference. Because the instant action involves a review of an administrative record, however, a case management conference has not been scheduled.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
MAXINE M. CHESNEY
United States District Judge