The United States District Court for the District of Maryland is composed of district judges and magistrate judges. District judges are appointed under Article III of the Constitution by the President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the United States Senate. District judges are appointed for life, and they can only be removed through the impeachment process. Magistrate judges are judicial officers appointed by the judges of the district court for eight-year terms and are assigned duties as outlined under Local Rule 301.