Washington Consents to Proceed Before a U.S. Magistrate Judge is a document that allows a federal case to be heard by a magistrate judge instead of a district court judge. It is an agreement between the parties involved in a case to have a magistrate judge preside over the proceedings. The consent is voluntary and does not require either party to waive any rights they may have. There are two types of Washington Consents to Proceed Before a U.S. Magistrate Judge: Consent to Proceed Before a Magistrate Judge and Waiver of Right to Proceed Before a District Court Judge. The Consent to Proceed Before a Magistrate Judge is a formal agreement between the parties that allows a magistrate judge to preside over the case. The Waiver of Right to Proceed Before a District Court Judge is an agreement in which one party waives their right to have a district court judge preside over the case. Both documents must be signed by all parties involved in the case.