Gonzalez v. United States
United States Supreme Court
553 U.S. 242 (2008)
Relevant factsFree
In a felony case, defense counsel consented to having a magistrate judge preside over voir dire and jury selection under the Federal Magistrate Act, without the defendant's own personal, express consent; the defendant did not object at the time to counsel's decision to assent to the magistrate judge's participation.
IssueFree
Whether consent to have a magistrate judge assigned the additional duty of presiding over voir dire and jury selection in a felony case may be given by counsel alone, without the client's own express personal consent.