U.S. v. Harden

Magistrate Judge erred in accepting defendant’s guilty plea on felony drug distribution charge, where said acceptance by Magistrate Judge violated Federal Magistrate Act, even though Local Rule 72.1(b) of U.S. District Court for Southern District of Illinois allowed Magistrate Judges to accept said guilty pleas. Fact that defendant consented to Magistrate Judge accepting said plea did not require different result.