(a) The Chief Judge, after consultation with other Judges on the Court, may appoint, commission, set salaries for and discharge Masters in the Court. A Master, at the time of appointment and thereafter, shall be a suitable person who has been a resident of the State for at least 5 years immediately preceding the appointment. The salaries so set shall be a part of the annual budget of the Court and shall reflect the experience and time commitment of the person appointed to such office. (b) The Court as to all cases in a class or type of proceeding designated in the Court Rules, or the Chief Judge as to any individual case or proceeding, may direct that a hearing be held in the first instance by a Judge or Master; except, however, a Master shall not conduct adult bail and juvenile detention hearings or any hearings involving charges against juveniles which are classified as felonies when committed by an adult. The Department of Justice with respect to all other delinquency and adult misdemeanor charges, shall have the discretion, unless it has entered an appearance, whether to participate in delinquency and adult misdemeanor proceedings assigned by the Court to a Master, or, within a reasonable time, to transfer any delinquency or adult misdemeanor matter for consideration by a Judge. (c) Masters shall regulate all of the proceedings in every hearing before them. All proceedings before Masters shall be recorded. Masters shall have full authority to order the issuance of legal process to compel the attendance of necessary parties and witnesses; to administer oaths in the discharge of their official duties; to examine the parties and witnesses; to pass upon all questions of competency of witnesses and admissibility of evidence; to require the production of all books, papers, writings, vouchers and other documents applicable thereto; to grant adjournments and extensions of time; and generally to do all other acts, and direct all other inquiries and proceedings in the matters before them, which they may deem necessary and proper, including appropriate sanctions except incarceration, subject at all times to the revision and control of the Court. (d) (1) At the end of any hearing or within a reasonable time thereafter, a Master shall enter the order in writing which shall announce the result and provide an explanation therefor. Every written order by a Master shall inform all parties that, as provided in this section, there is an absolute right to a review de novo by a Judge and that in the absence of a request within 15 days for de novo review, the written order of a Master shall become enforceable by any legal means. Any party may obtain a review de novo of any Master's written order by a Judge by filing with the Court a written request therefor within 15 days from the date of a Master's written order; except, however, there shall be no review by a Judge in contravention of any state or federal constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy. (2) The time period for requesting a review de novo shall not begin to run until the Master has entered the order in writing and Family Court has issued said order to the parties and attorneys. If either party has requested a new trial, reargument, or an alteration or amendment of judgment, the time period for requesting a review de novo shall not begin to run until the Master has ruled on said request in writing and Family Court has issued that ruling to the parties and attorneys. If any order or ruling is sent by mail, an additional 3 days to request a review de novo shall be allowed. (e) Upon request for review de novo, the case shall be placed upon the calendar of the Court and treated for all purposes as if it had not been referred to a Master. Upon review de novo, unless otherwise stipulated by the parties the Court shall not admit evidence that there has been a proceeding before a Master, the nature of the Master's written order, nor any other matter concerning the conduct or outcome of the Master's proceeding; except, however, recorded sworn testimony and other evidence admitted at a Master's hearing may be used as the basis for an interim order of the Court, and generally in the same manner as sworn testimony given at a deposition in the case. (f) A request for a review de novo shall be the sole remedy of any party with respect to a Master's written order, except for posthearing motions before the Master. A Master's written order shall become an enforceable judgment of the Court only after the time for requesting a review de novo has expired without any such request. A judgment derived from a Master's written order shall have the same force and effect as any other judgment of the Court, except that it shall not be subject to appeal. (g) The Court may adopt appropriate and specific rules to effectuate the intent and purpose of these statutory provisions relating to Masters.
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