Texas Consent to Proceed Before a United States Magistrate Judge is a signed agreement between a defendant and the court, allowing a U.S. Magistrate Judge to preside over a criminal or civil case in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. This agreement grants the Magistrate Judge the authority to hear the case, including issuing orders and rulings, and allows the parties to the case to waive their right to have the case heard by a federal district judge. There are two types of Texas Consent to Proceed Before a United States Magistrate Judge: voluntary and mandatory. Voluntary Texas Consent to Proceed Before a United States Magistrate Judge is when the parties agree to have a Magistrate Judge hears the case. Mandatory Texas Consent to Proceed Before a United States Magistrate Judge is when the parties are required to have a Magistrate Judge hears the case due to the complexity of the case or the amount in controversy.