Referee

A person appointed by the Chief Judge to hear and determine certain cases. Here, the Referee hears any and all cases regarding housing, including eviction actions, lock-out petitions, tenants’ remedies, rent escrows, criminal Housing Code violations, and emergency relief cases. All decisions made by a Referee are subject to review by a District Court Judge.

A person to whom the court refers a pending case to take testimony, hear the parties, and report back to the court. A referee is an officer with judicial powers who serves as an arm of the court.