28 USC § 639 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s639"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "28 USC § 639 - Definitions"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "639"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 43
chapter_name: "UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES"
part_number: "III"
part_name: "COURT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-73"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 917; Pub. L. 90–578, title I, § 101, Oct. 17, 1968, 82 Stat. 1114; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117.)"
---


# § 639. Definitions

As used in this chapter—

**(1)** “Conference” shall mean the Judicial Conference of the United States;

**(2)** “Council” shall mean the Judicial Council of the Circuit;

**(3)** “Director” shall mean the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts;

**(4)** “Full-time magistrate judge” shall mean a full-time United States magistrate judge;

**(5)** “Part-time magistrate judge” shall mean a part-time United States magistrate judge; and

**(6)** “United States magistrate judge” and “magistrate judge” shall mean both full-time and part-time United States magistrate judges.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 917; Pub. L. 90–578, title I, § 101, Oct. 17, 1968, 82 Stat. 1114; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 528a (, ).

Provisions of , U.S.C., 1940 ed., for furnishing seal is included in .

Changes were made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1968— substituted definition provisions for prior requirements obligating the Director to furnish docket books and forms to United States commissioners and, with approval of the chief judge of the district court, a copy of the United States Code, declaring such property to remain United States property, and calling for transmission of such property to successors in office or for its disposal as directed by the Director, now incorporated in section 638(a) and (b) of this title.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Words “magistrate judge” and “magistrate judges” substituted for “magistrate” and “magistrates”, respectively, wherever appearing in text pursuant to , set out as a note under .

### Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , except when a later effective date is applicable, which is the earlier of date when implementation of amendment by appointment of magistrates [now United States magistrate judges] and assumption of office takes place or third anniversary of enactment of  on , see , set out as a note under .