# MDL Consolidation

> The process by which similar civil cases from multiple federal districts are transferred to a single court for coordinated pretrial proceedings.

**Category:** Legal Procedure
**Canonical URL:** https://drugsmonitor.com/glossary/mdl-consolidation
**Last updated:** 2026-06-11

MDL consolidation is governed by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), which consists of seven federal judges appointed by the Chief Justice. The JPML considers factors like efficiency, convenience, and fairness when deciding whether to centralize cases.

Once consolidated, cases are assigned to a single district judge who manages all pretrial proceedings including discovery, motion practice, bellwether selection, and settlement conferences. This prevents duplicative discovery and inconsistent rulings.

MDL consolidation is temporary. After pretrial proceedings conclude, cases may be remanded to their originating districts for trial, settled, or otherwise resolved. The MDL judge cannot decide individual cases on the merits without consent of the parties.

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*Glossary entry from DrugsMonitor.com.*