Washington Consents To Proceed Before A US Magistrate Judge is an agreement that allows a litigant to waive their right to a trial by jury and agree to have their case heard before a United States Magistrate Judge. The consent must be made in writing, and must be signed by both parties and their attorneys, if present. There are three different types of consent that a litigant can choose from in Washington State, which include: General Consent, Special Consent, and Rule 72 Consent. General Consent allows the litigant to proceed before a US Magistrate Judge in a civil case, while Special Consent is limited to criminal cases. Rule 72 Consent is a form of General Consent which allows a Magistrate Judge to hear a civil case without any objections from either party. In all cases, the litigant must agree to the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Judge in the district court where the case is being heard.