Title 28Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-73

§639 Definitions

Title 28 › Part PART III— - COURT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES › Chapter CHAPTER 43— - UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES › § 639

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines: Conference—Judicial Conference of the United States; Council—Judicial Council of the Circuit; Director—Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts; magistrate judge—both full‑time and part‑time United States magistrate judges.

Full Legal Text

Title 28, §639

Judiciary and Judicial Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

As used in this chapter—
(1)“Conference” shall mean the Judicial Conference of the United States;
(2)“Council” shall mean the Judicial Council of the Circuit;
(3)“Director” shall mean the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts;
(4)“Full-time magistrate judge” shall mean a full-time United States magistrate judge;
(5)“Part-time magistrate judge” shall mean a part-time United States magistrate judge; and
(6)“United States magistrate judge” and “magistrate judge” shall mean both full-time and part-time United States magistrate judges.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 528a (July 10, 1946, ch. 548, 60 Stat. 525). Provisions of section 528a of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., for furnishing seal is included in section 638 of this title. Changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1968—Pub. L. 90–578 substituted definition provisions for prior requirements obligating the Director to furnish docket books and forms to United States commissioners and, with approval of the chief judge of the district court, a copy of the United States Code, declaring such property to remain United States property, and calling for transmission of such property to successors in office or for its disposal as directed by the Director, now incorporated in section 638(a) and (b) of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Words “magistrate judge” and “magistrate judges” substituted for “magistrate” and “magistrates”, respectively, wherever appearing in text 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. § 639

Title 28Judiciary and Judicial Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73