Ok lawyer question time
Gabriel Gorenstein is chief federal magistrate judge for the southern district of New York
Why is he hearing a criminal case (sentencing since she was found guilty)
Don’t magistrates usually do hearings and arraignments and bonds instead of trials and sentencings
Maybe in federal court they can handle less serious offense trials...guessing
Misdemeanor crime I guess which a magistrate can do.
There is no uniform form for the reference of cases to Magistrates in different jurisdictions. The basic idea—at least in Ohio Courts—is that they free up judicial time for more serious cases; but often the reason a particular case may be referred to a magistrate, may reflect on a particular Judge’s inclinations, rather than a standardized policy, in a Court of general jurisdiction. Each County will likely have a policy, adopted by the Judges of the referring bench.