Civil and criminal actions are assigned by a random selection process in order to ensure that the identity of the judge is not disclosed before the case is officially filed. The Clerk's Office uses an automated case assignment system to randomly assign cases to judicial officers. When a new case is filed, the clerk's office will draw a new judicial officer from the system. A judicial officer is assigned to each new criminal case, and a presiding judge and in some cases a referral judge is assigned to each new civil action.
CASE NUMBERS
In referring to the case number in your pleadings please use the following format:
A two-digit indicator of the year the case is filed: 23
The notation CV (Civil), CR (Criminal), or MC (Miscellaneous): 23-CV
An individualized four digit (civil), or three digit (criminal and miscellaneous), case number which begins anew at the beginning of each year: 23-CV-0001
A three letter designation signifies the judge officer presiding assignment: 23-CV-0001-JFH
- Judge John Heil, III - JFH
- Judge Gregory K. Frizzell - GKF
- Judge Terence C. Kern - TCK
- Judge Claire V. Eagan - CVE
- Magistrate Jodi F. Jayne - JFJ
- Magistrate Christine Little - CDL
- Magistrate Susan Huntsman - SH
- Magistrate Mark T. Steele - MTS
In Civil Action Assigned to a presiding District Judge - Followed by a two or three letter designation for the assigned referral Magistrate: 23-CV-0001-JFH-JFJ
- Magistrate Jodi F. Jayne - JFJ
- Magistrate Christine Little - CDL
- Magistrate Susan Huntsman - SH
- Magistrate Mark T. Steele - MTS
On civil cases consented to proceed before a Magistrate Judge, just the Magistrate Judge's initial would be used (e.g. 21-CV-0001-JFJ).