James Joseph Brown v. United States

TJOFLAT, Circuit Judge:

The Federal Magistrate Act of 1979, Pub.L. No. 96-82, 93 Stat. 643, authorizes a magistrate judge, with the consent of the parties, to “conduct any or all proceedings in a jury or nonjury civil matter and order the entry of judgment in the case.” Id. § 2, 93 Stat. at 643 (codified as amended at 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) (2006)). In Appeal No. 12-10293, which must be decided before we reach Appeal No. 11-15149, the question presented is whether the consensual delegation of a motion to vacate sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (Supp. I 2009) 1 to a magistrate judge for final…