A new federal judge will soon take the bench in Alabama.
New Orleans native Madeline Haikala will start her new job Monday as a U.S. magistrate judge hearing cases in a district composed of 31 counties in the northern part of Alabama. The Birmingham News reports (http://bit.ly/QpmFyA ) that Haikala is the first new magistrate judge in 14 years.
Magistrate judges hear federal misdemeanor cases and conduct pre-trial proceedings.
Haikala attended a school for new federal judges in August. She will head to Washington this week for additional training.
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Information from: The Birmingham News, http://www.al.com/birminghamnews
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press