Chap. 169.——An ACT to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a new section num-
bered 1948-a, authorizing the appointment of referees in Juvenile and Domestic
Relations Courts in certain cities, and prescrbing the powers and duties of such
referees. [H 340]

Approved March 9, 1944

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding a new section
numbered nineteen hundred forty-eight-a, as follows:

Section 1948-a. Referees in certain courts; their duties and powers.
—The judge of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in any city
having a population of one hundred forty thousand or over may appoint
one or more suitable persons, qualified to practice law in the State of
Virginia, to act as referee for the purpose of hearing and determining
any matters or cases assigned to him by the court, to conduct the hear-
ing of the case and to report to the court his findings of fact and recom-
mendations. Any person appointed as referee hereunder shall have the
power and the authority of a justice of the peace in performing the
duties of his office. He shall be subject to removal by the judge.

Fach referee appointed hereunder shall report to the court in writ-
ing, unless written report is waived by the parties, his findings of fact
and recommendations, and his recommendations, if and when approved
by the judge, shall become the judgment of the court. Any person in
interest shall have the right to secure a review of the report of the referee,
with the right to introduce further evidence, provided a motion or re-
quest for such review is made to the court at any time within ten days
after the entry of the report of the referee upon the records of the court.
At such review the parties shall have the right to introduce further evi-
dence but the court may also consider the findings of fact made by the
referee.

In the event of the absence or inability to serve of both the Judge
of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and the substitute justice
whose appointment is provided for in section nineteen hundred forty-
eight, a referee appointed under the provisions of this section shall have,
at the request of the judge or substitute justice, the power to hear and
determine cases coming before the court, with the right of any party in
interest to apply for a review of the referee’s judgment within ten days
after the entry of the judgment. Such review shall be before the judge
or the substitute justice, and the parties shall have the right to introduce
such further evidence as they wish.

From any final order or judgment entered by the court under the
provisions of this section, an appeal may be taken in accordance with
the provisions of section nineteen hundred fifty-one-a of the Code.

Each referee appointed under the provisions of this section shall
receive such compensation for his services as fixed by the governing
body of the city upon the recommendation of the judge of the court.