Notice
United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama In Re: The Matter of the Reappointment of T. Michael Putnam as a United States Magistrate Judge

The current term of office of United States Magistrate Judge T. Michael Putnam at Birmingham, Alabama is due to expire February 8, 2011. The United States District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider the reappointment of the magistrate judge to a new eight-year term.

The duties of a magistrate judge in the Northern District of Alabama include the following:

1. the trial and disposition of virtually all categories of civil actions with consent of the parties in accord with 28 U.S.C. § 636(c);
2. pursuant to the court's General Orders of Reference, presiding over all aspects of civil cases, through the entry of a recommendation for final disposition under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b);
3. ruling on various pretrial matters and holding evidentiary proceedings on references from the district court judges made in addition to the general orders, including discovery issues and other non-dispositive motions;
4. conducting settlement conference or mediation in civil actions by reference;
5. performing such other duties as set out in LR 72.1 through 73.2, Rules of the Northern District of Alabama and the court's General Orders of Reference;
6. conducting preliminary proceedings in felony criminal cases, including initial appearances, bond/detention hearings and arraignments;
7. issuing warrants of arrest, search warrants and warrants in administrative actions;
   
8. ruling on all non-dispositive motions in felony criminal cases or entering findings and recommendations with respect to dispositive criminal motions such as motions to dismiss or to suppress evidence; and
9. conducting preliminary reviews and making recommendations regarding the disposition of prisoner civil rights complaints and habeas corpus petitions. Conducting such evidentiary proceedings as may be required in prisoner and habeas corpus actions.

Comments from members of the bar and the public are invited as to whether the incumbent magistrate judge should be recommended by the panel for reappointment by the court and should be directed to:

Sharon N. Harris, clerk of court
United States District Court
Northern District of Alabama
1729 Fifth Avenue North
Birmingham 35203

Comments must be received by August 31, 2010.

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