This work provides the foundation for the study of United States Magistrate Judges and an examination of their behavior. The results presented in this work make a theoretical contribution to the literature supported by both qualitatively and quantitatively examining the roles and decisions of United States Magistrate Judges. At the most fundamental level, this work shows that Magistrate Judges should no longer be overlooked in the public law literature and calls for more research on these, and other overlooked players in the judiciary.
