How is a private judge different from a referee or special master?
California law provides that judges can appoint either referees or special masters to investigate specific issues or claims and report back to the court. Special masters and referees are not judges and do not have authority to make binding orders. Instead, they investigate the issues which have been assigned to them, and make recommendations to the judge, who is then free to accept, reject, or modify the recommendations in making a final order. By contrast, a private judge has all of the authority of a Superior Court judge, and the orders are final, enforceable and appealable.
