UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN 

NORTHERN DIVISION 

NATHANIEL HINES, 

 Plaintiff, Case No. 14-cv-13619 

v. Honorable Thomas L. Ludington 

CORRECTIONS MENTAL HEALTH 

PROGRAM, 

 Defendant. 

_______________________________________/ 

ORDER DENYING IN PART MOTION TO OBJECT, CONTINUING ORDER OF 

REFERENCE AND REFERRING BALANCE OF MOTION TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

 On September 17, 2014, Plaintiff Nathaniel Hines filed a pro se complaint against the 

“Corrections Mental Health Program.” ECF No. 1. Hines’ case was referred to Magistrate Judge 

Michael J. Hluchaniuk for pretrial matters pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) on November 13, 

2014. ECF No. 9. On November 20, 2014, Hines objected to that order of reference. ECF No. 10. 

 Under the Magistrate Judge Act, 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), a district court judge is permitted 

to refer all non-dispositive pretrial matters to a magistrate judge for determination. Id. at 

§ 636(b)(1)(A); see also Calderon v. Waco Lighthouse for the Blind, 630 F.2d 352, 354 (5th Cir. 

1980). Any objections to the findings made by the magistrate judge on these matters are 

reviewed under a clear error standard. Id. “The statute also permits the district court to refer 

dispositive pretrial matters . . . to a magistrate for submission of proposed findings of fact and 

conclusions of law, but the district judge must make a ‘de novo determination’ of any objected to 

portions of the magistrate’s proposed findings.” Calderon, 630 F.2d at 354-55 (citing 28 U.S.C. 

§ 636(b)(1)(B)). 

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 Hines challenges the Court’s order of reference made under § 636(b)(1). Specifically, 

Hines writes that he is “objecting to, a referal to a magistrate substituting of your Judgment [sic 

throughout].” ECF No. 10 at 1. When a party “objects to a reference to a magistrate [he 

generally] must make his objections known either at the time of reference or soon thereafter.” 

Hill v. Duriron Co., 656 F.2d 1208, 1213 (6th Cir. 1981). Hines has timely registered his 

objections. They are, however, without merit. 

“[W]hen analyzing a challenge to the district judge’s delegation of authority to a 

magistrate judge pursuant to § 636(b), the ‘dispositive question’ is whether the duty assigned to a 

magistrate judge is ‘subject to meaningful review’ by a district judge.” United States v. BolivarMunoz, 313 F.3d 253, 256 (5th Cir. 2002) (quoting Jones v. Johnson, 134 F.3d 309, 311 (5th 

Cir.1998)). Here, the referral of all pretrial matters to Magistrate Judge Hluchaniuk does not 

substitute his judgment for the judgment of this Court, as Hines contends. Rather, there are 

statutorily provided standards of review for all recommendations issued by Magistrate Judge 

Hluchaniuk. This Court is not bound by any of those recommendations. Bolivar-Munoz, 313 

F.3d at 257 (noting that district judge is not bound by guilty plea taken by magistrate judge). 

 Because the Magistrate Judge Act provides for meaningful review of all pretrial matters 

referred to a magistrate judge, a district court need not obtain consent of the parties before 

referring those matters. United States v. B & D Vending, Inc., 398 F.3d 728, 732 (6th Cir. 2004) 

(noting that statute states only that district judge may “designate” a magistrate judge for pretrial 

matters). Where a reference beyond the scope of subsections (b)(1)(A) & (B) is made, consent of 

the parties may be required. Calderon, 630 F.2d at 355 (holding that references to magistrate for 

trial on the merits are permissible but only pursuant to consent from the parties). Here, Hines’ 

consent is not required to refer pretrial matters to Magistrate Judge Hluchaniuk and his concern 

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that Magistrate Judge Hluchaniuk will substitute his judgment for that of this Court is 

unfounded. His motion objecting to the order of reference will be denied. 

 Accordingly, it is ORDERED that Plaintiff Hines’ motion, ECF No. 10, is DENIED in 

part as to his objection to the order referring his case to Magistrate Judge Hluchaniuk. 

 It is further ORDERED that all pretrial matters in the above-captioned case, including 

those issues remaining in Plaintiff Hines’ November 20, 2014 motion, ECF No. 10, are 

REFERRED to Magistrate Judge Hluchaniuk for the purposes outlined in the initial order of 

reference, ECF No. 9. 

Dated: December 30, 2014 s/Thomas L. Ludington 

 THOMAS L. LUDINGTON 

 United States District Judge 

 

PROOF OF SERVICE 

The undersigned certifies that a copy of the foregoing order was served 

upon Nathaniel Hines #452677 at Macomb Correctional Facility, 34625 

26 Mile Road, New Haven, MI 48048 by first class U.S. mail on 

December 30, 2014. 

 s/Tracy A. Jacobs 

 TRACY A. JACOBS 

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