Judge Elevated to United States District Court

May 13, 2011

Virginia: Judge Michael Urbanski was elevated from his position as a federal magistrate judge to the United States District Court on May 12, 2011 by a unanimous Senate vote.^[1]

As a judge on the United States District Court, Urbanski will preside over cases in their entirety, in addition to hearing any question that comes before the court. He will no longer have to rule over arraignments and bond hearings, as well as no longer having to rule over minor offenses or benefits appeals.^[1]

The position became available when Judge Norman Moon reached senior status. Judge Moon presides over cases in Lynchburg and Charlottesville, however, Urbanski may not necessarily be assigned to these courts. Judges will first have to examine the caseloads in other parts of Virginia, in addition to the availability of things such as office space and courts that have done and done without resident judges.^[1]

"He has been a great magistrate judge, I don't think he'll have any difficulty making the transition." said chief U.S. judge Glen Conrad for the Western District of Virginia.^[1] Conrad also noted that Western District federal judges will be meeting in the next two weeks to decide the courts Urbanski will eventually cover.

Conrad expects Urbanski to be sworn in relatively soon, but knows Urbanski will to continue as a magistrate judge until they have found his replacement.

The applications are already coming in and a committee made up of lawyers and non-lawyers will be appointed by Conrad to review all applications and then to recommend five finalists. Judges will then choose one of the finalists as the new magistrate judge or will ask for five more potential candidates.^[1]

Footnotes