COURT COMMISSIONERS
Persons appointed by a judge to find facts, to hear
testimony, or to perform a specific function connected
with certain types of cases.
An attorney, a judge, a retired judge, or any
person with the background necessary to comprehend
complex legal matters may be a court
commissioner, although a court commissioner
is not a judge. The court that the court commissioner
serves ordinarily reviews his or her decisions.
Commissioners may take testimony in hearings
to determine the validity of a will; proceedings
concerning the entry of default judgments
or stipulations; pretrial conferences in criminal
cases; or proceedings involving family court petitions
to modify ALIMONY or CHILD SUPPORT.
State law governs the powers of court commissioners.
