(a) The examination proceedings authorized by this article may be conducted by a referee appointed by the court. The referee may issue, modify, or vacate an order authorized by Section 491.190, may make a protective order authorized by Section 491.180, and may issue a warrant authorized by Section 491.160, and has the same power as the court to grant adjournments, to preserve order, and to subpoena witnesses to attend the examination, but only the court that ordered the reference has power to do any of the following:
(1) Punish for contempt for disobeying an order of the referee.
(2) Make an award of attorney’s fees pursuant to Section 491.160.
(3) Determine a third-party claim under Section 491.170.
(b) Only a member of the State Bar of California is eligible for appointment as a referee pursuant to this article.
(c) Nothing in subdivision (a) limits the power of a court to appoint a temporary judge pursuant to Section 21 of Article VI of the California Constitution.
(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1198, Sec. 57. Operative July 1, 1983, by Sec. 70 of Ch. 1198.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018