Fifth Circuit to Consider Impact of Stern v. Marshall on U.S. Magistrates

While the paparazzi followed every move of Anna Nicole Smith during her tragically shortened life, those of us of the legal paparazzi now stalk every new development in the case which bears her legal name, Stern v. Marshall. Some commentators have asked whether the newly emphasized limitations on the jurisdiction of U.S. Bankruptcy Judges to enter final judgments will apply to U.S. Magistrates as well. The Fifth Circuit has indicated that it will soon be considering this issue.

On September 9, 2011, the Fifth Circuit directed the parties to submit

letter briefs of not more than six pages addressing whether the reasoning of Stern applies to magistrate judges, which, like bankruptcy judges, are not Article III judges, and whether, under Stern, a magistrate judge can enter final judgment in a case tried to a magistrate judge by consent under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) where jurisdiction is based on diversity of citizenship and state law provides the rule of decision.

Technical Automation Services Corp. v. Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, No. 10-20640 (5th Cir. 9/9/11), Order, p. 2.

Thus, it looks like there may be a circuit-level opinion on Stern v. Marshall sooner rather than later.

Hat Tip to Prof. Ken Klee.

You can read the order in full below.