The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas is accepting applications for a full-time magistrate judge position in Dallas. The court emphasizes that maintaining diversity within its system is an important part of ensuring public trust in the justice process. According to the court, “An important component of this function is the creation and maintenance of diversity in the court system. A community’s belief that a court dispenses justice is heightened when the court reflects the community’s racial, ethnic, and gender diversity.”
Magistrate judges are responsible for conducting preliminary proceedings in criminal cases, overseeing misdemeanor trials and dispositions, handling pretrial matters and evidentiary hearings as delegated by district judges, and presiding over civil cases with litigants’ consent. Their authority is outlined under 28 U.S.C. § 636.
Applicants must meet several requirements: they must have been active members in good standing of a state or territorial bar for at least five years; be able to perform all duties; possess good moral character; demonstrate emotional stability; commit to equal justice under law; be under 70 years old; and not be related to any district judge.
A merit selection panel made up of attorneys and other community members will review applications confidentially and recommend five candidates to the district judges. The final appointee will undergo a background investigation by the FBI and an IRS tax check. Compliance with financial disclosure requirements under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 is mandatory.
The appointment term lasts eight years, with an annual salary set at $229,908. The selection process aims to consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, religion, national origin, or disability.
Interested individuals can obtain the application form from the district clerk’s office or download it from the court’s website (www.txnd.uscourts.gov). Applications should be submitted via email to mj_applications@txnd.uscourts.gov by midnight on Monday, May 4, 2026. Only materials specified in the application instructions will be accepted.
All applications will remain confidential unless applicants consent otherwise. Only members of the merit selection panel and district judges will review them.
Further details about this announcement can be found on the official public notice available through the court’s website.
