U.S. Northern District magistrate applications now being accepted.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida anticipates a vacancy in one of its full-time magistrate judge positions in Pensacola.

The incumbent has been nominated to fill a U.S. District Court judge position on or after November 20. The U.S. Judicial Conference has authorized the appointment of a successor full-time magistrate judge at Pensacola, to be appointed to an eight-year term.

The duties of the magistrate judge position include, but are not limited to, conducting of most preliminary proceedings in criminal cases; trial and disposition of misdemeanor cases; conduct of various pretrial matters and evidentiary proceedings on delegation from the judges of the district court; and trial and disposition of civil cases upon consent of the litigants.

To be qualified for appointment an applicant must:

* Be, and have been for at least five years, a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and have been engaged in the active practice of law for a period of at least five years.

* Be competent to perform all the duties of the office; be of good moral character; emotionally stable and mature; committed to equal justice under the law; in good health; patient and courteous; and capable of deliberation and decisiveness.

* Be less than 70 years old.

* Not be related to a judge of the district court.

A Merit Selection Panel composed of attorneys and other members of the community will...