§ 201.308 Powers of Associate Judge

Except as limited by an order of referral, an associate judge may:

conduct a hearing;

hear evidence;

compel production of relevant evidence;

rule on the admissibility of evidence;

issue a summons for:

the appearance of witnesses; and

the appearance of a parent who has failed to appear before an agency authorized to conduct an investigation of an allegation of abuse or neglect of a child after receiving proper notice;

examine a witness;

swear a witness for a hearing;

make findings of fact on evidence;

formulate conclusions of law;

recommend an order to be rendered in a case;

regulate proceedings in a hearing;

order the attachment of a witness or party who fails to obey a subpoena;

order the detention of a witness or party found guilty of contempt, pending approval by the referring court; and

take action as necessary and proper for the efficient performance of the associate judge’s duties.

An associate judge may, in the interest of justice, refer a case back to the referring court regardless of whether a timely objection to the associate judge hearing the trial on the merits or presiding at a jury trial has been made by any party.