Opinion ID: 453430
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Magistrate's Report.

Text: 27 On November 10, 1983, the United States Magistrate filed his report and recommendation on defendants' motions to dismiss the perjury indictment, recommending that the motions be denied on the ground that the indictments were legally sufficient. This report was accompanied by an order signed by the district judge stating: 28 After having carefully reviewed the record, the pleadings, and the memoranda of the parties in this case, I provisionally approve the Magistrate's Report and Recommendation. 29 If no objection is made within ten (10) days of receipt of this Order, the Magistrate's Report and Recommendation is adopted as the opinion and Order of this Court. 30 Appellants argue that the use of the magistrate to review the motion claiming insufficiency of the perjury counts violated 28 U.S.C. Sec. 636(b)(1)(C) as well as Article III of the United States Constitution. These arguments are without merit. 28 U.S.C. Sec. 636(b)(1)(C) provides: 31 the magistrate shall file his proposed findings and recommendations under subparagraph (B) with the court and a copy shall forthwith be mailed to all parties. 32 Appellants say that the procedure here violated Section 636(b)(1)(C), because the district judge received the magistrate's report before it was filed. Appellants also claim that this procedure violated Rule IV(B)(5)(a) of the Local Magistrate's Rules, which provides: 33 Recommendation of the Magistrate. After consideration of a matter designated under Magistrate Rule IV.B.1-4, either upon submission or after oral hearing, the magistrate shall make a report of proposed findings of fact and recommendations in writing for disposition thereof by a judge of the court. The recommendation shall be lodged with the clerk who shall forward a copy to each party forthwith. 34 These requirements were clearly satisfied in this case. Nothing in the record indicates that the district court received or signed the report before it was filed or before copies were sent to the parties. If he did, there would be no reversible error. Appellants' argument is pettifoggery. 35 Appellants argue that the district court assigned its decision-making function to a non-Article III judge. Nothing in the record even suggests that the district court did not exercise its own independent judgment. The court's procedure fully complied with statutory and constitutional requirements. See United States v. Raddatz, 1980, 447 U.S. 667, 100 S.Ct. 2406, 65 L.Ed.2d 424; United States v. Bezold, 9 Cir., 1985, 760 F.2d 999, at pp. 1001-1003 (1985); Hinman v. McCarthy, 9 Cir., 1982, 676 F.2d 343. 36