Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-102
§632 Character of Service
Title 28 › PART III — COURT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES › CHAPTER 43 — UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES › § 632
Summary
Full-time U.S. magistrate judges must not practice law or hold jobs that interfere with their duties. Part-time judges must perform required judicial work; they may practice law but cannot be counsel in any criminal case in any U.S. court and must follow conference rules.
Full Legal Text
Title 28, §632
Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Full-time United States magistrate judges may not engage in the practice of law, and may not engage in any other business, occupation, or employment inconsistent with the expeditious, proper, and impartial performance of their duties as judicial officers.
(b)Part-time United States magistrate judges shall render such service as judicial officers as is required by law. While so serving they may engage in the practice of law, but may not serve as counsel in any criminal action in any court of the United States, nor act in any capacity that is, under such regulations as the conference may establish, inconsistent with the proper discharge of their office. Within such restrictions, they may engage in any other business, occupation, or employment which is not inconsistent with the expeditious, proper, and impartial performance of their duties as judicial officers.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1968—Pub. L. 90–578 substituted provisions as to character of service of full-time and part-time United States magistrates for former provisions prescribing jurisdiction and powers of national park commissioners and practice and procedure before such officers. See section 636 of this title.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
“United States magistrate judges” substituted for “United States magistrates” 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. § 632
Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102