Title 28 — Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-73
§638 Dockets and forms; United States Code; seals
Title 28 › Part PART III— - COURT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES › Chapter CHAPTER 43— - UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES › § 638
Summary
The Director must give each U.S. magistrate judge docket books, the required forms, and a current copy of the United States Code. Those items stay U.S. government property and must be passed to a successor or handled as the Director orders when the judge leaves. The Director must also give each judge an official seal (as the conference sets), and the judge must attach it to every jurat or certificate for their official acts at no charge.
Full Legal Text
Title 28, §638
Judiciary and Judicial Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The Director shall furnish to United States magistrate judges adequate docket books and forms prescribed by the Director. The Director shall also furnish to each such officer a copy of the current edition of the United States Code.
(b)All property furnished to any such officer shall remain the property of the United States and, upon the termination of his term of office, shall be transmitted to his successor in office or otherwise disposed of as the Director orders.
(c)The Director shall furnish to each United States magistrate judge appointed under this chapter an official impression seal in a form prescribed by the conference. Each such officer shall affix his seal to every jurat or certificate of his official acts without fee.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 528, 528a (
June 28, 1906, ch. 3573, 34 Stat. 546;
July 10, 1946, ch. 548, 60 Stat. 525). Section consolidates section 528 and part of section 528a of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with changes in phraseology necessary to effect consolidation. Provisions of section 528a of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., relating to dockets and forms, are incorporated in section 639 of this title. Words “Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts” were substituted for “Attorney General”, contained in section 528 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., in view of Act Aug. 7, 1939, ch. 501, § 6, 53 Stat. 1226, 28 U.S.C., 1940 ed., following § 446, giving the Directors supervision of court administrative matters. Changes in phraseology were made.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1968—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–578 incorporated in provisions designated as subsec. (a) provisions of first par. of former section 639 of this title, substituting “United States magistrates” for prior designation as “United States Commissioners”, specifying that the copy of the United States Code be a current edition, and dispensing with approval by the chief judge of the district court for a copy of such Code. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 90–578 incorporated in provisions designated as subsec. (b) provisions of the second par. of former section 639 of this title. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 90–578 designated existing provisions as subsec. (c), and substituted “United States magistrate” for “United States commissioner”, provision for appointment under this chapter rather than after July 10, 1946, provision that the form of the seal be prescribed by the conference rather than the Director, and “without fee” for “without additional fee”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
“United States magistrate judges” and “United States magistrate judge” substituted for “United States magistrates” and “United States magistrate”, respectively, in subsecs. (a) and (c) pursuant to section 321 of Pub. L. 101–650, set out as a note under section 631 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1968 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 90–578 effective Oct. 17, 1968, except when a later
Effective Date
is applicable, which is the earlier of date when implementation of amendment by appointment of magistrates [now United States magistrate judges] and assumption of office takes place or third anniversary of enactment of Pub. L. 90–578 on Oct. 17, 1968, see section 403 of Pub. L. 90–578, set out as a note under section 631 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
28 U.S.C. § 638
Title 28 — Judiciary and Judicial Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73