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AO 86A

Consent to Proceed Before a Magistrate Judge in a Misdemeanor Case

Federal · United States Courts · Effective January 1, 2009

This form is a consent document where a defendant agrees to be tried before a Magistrate Judge in a misdemeanor case. By signing, the defendant is giving up certain rights, such as the right to a jury trial or the right to have 30 days to prepare for trial.

Open the official PDFfrom United States Courts

Where this fits in a case

Motions

Stage: Motions

This form is used in a misdemeanor criminal case when a defendant is asked to agree to be tried before a Magistrate Judge instead of a United States district judge.

Either party may file.

Common questions

What is this form for?
This form is a consent agreement for a defendant in a misdemeanor case to agree to be tried before a Magistrate Judge. It involves giving up certain rights to the court.
Does the defendant have to sign this form?
The form requires signatures from the defendant, and also signatures from the government representative and the Magistrate Judge.
What rights can be waived using this form?
The defendant can waive rights such as the right to a jury trial, the right to be tried by a district judge, or the right to have 30 days to prepare for trial.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect January 1, 2009.

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