What are Magistrate judges and how are they different from other judges?
In the United States federal courts, magistrate judges are lower-level judges appointed by federal district judges to assist United States district court judges in the performance of their duties, especially in districts where the caseload is high and legal help is wanting. In criminal proceedings, magistrate judges preside over misdemeanor and petty offense cases, and as to all criminal cases (felony and misdemeanor) may issue search warrants, arrest warrants, and summonses, accept criminal complaints, conduct initial appearance proceedings and detention hearings, set bail or other conditions of release or detention, hold preliminary hearings and examinations, administer oaths, conduct extradition proceedings, and conduct evidentiary hearings on motions to suppress evidence in felony cases for issuance of reports and recommendations to the district judge. The Supreme Court has held that federal magistrate judges may accept guilty pleas and has held in Peretz v. United States that magi
