A Magistrate is hearing my case instead of a Judge. What is a Magistrate?
A magistrate is an attorney who has been hired by the court to hear evidence and decide cases. The magistrate stands in the place of the Judge. This frees the Judge to handle other cases. The magistrate will hear your case and issue written findings in a magistrate’s decision. The magistrate will make recommendations to the Judge regarding your case. If you disagree with the magistrate’s decision, under Civil Rule 53 you can file written objections to the decision within 14 days of the filing of the magistrate’s decision. The Judge will review the magistrate’s decision, and either adopt the magistrate’s decision, or set your case for a hearing before him or her.
