The current term of office of United States Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long in Urbana, llinois expires on May 3, 2023. The United States District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider the reappointment of the magistrate judge to a new eight-year term.

The duties of the position, specified in  28 U.S.C. § 636, are demanding and wide-ranging, such as: (1) conducting most preliminary proceedings in criminal cases; (2) trial and disposition of misdemeanor cases; (3) conducting various pretrial matters and evidentiary proceedings on delegation from a district judge; and (4) trial and disposition of civil cases upson consent of the litigants. 

Members of the bar and the public may submit comments regarding whether the merit selection panel should recommend United States Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long be reappointed by the Court. Comments are due by Septemebr 9, 2022, and may be directed to:

Magistrate Judge Reappointment Comments
c/o Chair John E. Thies
Webber & Thies
202 Lincoln Square Post Office Box 189 Urbana, IL 61803
jthies@webberthies.com