This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A federal immigration court judge has been chosen as the newest federal magistrate for Utah.

Dustin Pead, 40, will replace magistrate Judge Samuel Alba when he retires in June, according to the federal court clerk's office.

Pead, a 1998 graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, served as an assistant U.S. attorney for about five years before his 2008 appointment to the U.S. Immigration Court bench.

Pead's appointment will round out the slate of four full-time magistrate judges in Utah, who handle preliminary hearings in criminal cases, adjudicate some civil cases, and have other limited authorities.

They support Utah's U.S. district judges. Utah's fifth and final federal slot is set to be filled by attorney Robert Shelby, who is awaiting a final confirmation vote by the full Senate, expected in the next few months.

Magistrates are appointed to eight-year terms by a majority vote of district judges.

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