Magistrate Judges, Consent, and Article III: Understanding 28 U.S.C. § 636
Accuracy update — reviewed August 7, 2026. This article arose from the author’s motion concerning a filing-restriction or “curb” order. It has been revised to clarify that magistrate judges may perform many duties without the parties’ consent; consent is required for the broader civil-judgment authority described in 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). Article III and magistrate […]
Bell v. Burson and Driver’s-License Suspension: The Due-Process Principle and Its Limits
Accuracy update — reviewed August 7, 2026. Bell v. Burson protects procedural due process before certain driver’s-license suspensions. It does not guarantee reinstatement, establish a right to drive without a license, or automatically invalidate child-support suspension statutes. What Bell held In Bell v. Burson, 402 U.S. 535 (1971), Georgia sought to suspend an uninsured motorist’s […]