Rule 3. Appointment and Authority of Masters

(a) Appointment. The presiding judge may appoint a

standing

master

to

conduct

adoption

proceedings.

Appointments of standing masters must be reviewed annually.

The presiding judge may appoint a special master to conduct a

proceeding which is specified in the order of reference.

(b) Authority, Order of Reference.

(1) An order of reference specifying the extent of the

master’s authority and the type of appointment must be entered

in every case assigned to a master. The order of reference must

be served on all parties.

(2) A master’s report is not binding until approved by a

superior court judge pursuant to Civil Rule 53(d) and

paragraph (f) of this rule, except that a master may enter orders

without further approval of the superior court pursuant to Civil

Rule 53(b) and (c), and paragraph (d) of this rule.

(c) Objection to Reference to a Master. In addition to

the peremptory challenge of a master provided for in Civil

Rule 42(c), a party may file an objection to a referral to a

master in the following manner:

(1) Timeliness. A party may file an objection no later

than five days after receiving notice of an order of reference.

(2) Grounds for Objection. An objection to the

assignment of a master must set forth sufficient grounds from

which the court may determine whether good cause exists to

remove the matter from the master’s jurisdiction. Good cause

may include involvement of:

(i) complex questions of law which require a decision by

a superior court judge; or

(ii) questions requiring prompt resolution which would

be seriously impaired by reference to a master.

gnment of a master must set forth sufficient grounds from

which the court may determine whether good cause exists to

remove the matter from the master’s jurisdiction. Good cause

may include involvement of:

(i) complex questions of law which require a decision by

a superior court judge; or

(ii) questions requiring prompt resolution which would

be seriously impaired by reference to a master.

(d) Standing Master’s Authority to Enter Orders. A

standing master is authorized to take the following actions

without further approval by a superior court judge:

(1) appoint counsel and guardians ad litem;

(2) order home studies;

(3) set hearings and order continuances of the hearings;

(4) accept and approve stipulations; and

(5) accept voluntary relinquishments of parental rights

and consents to adoption, and, in the case of an Indian child,

make the requisite judicial certification of voluntary consent

required by federal law.

(e) Master’s Report, Recommendations. A master may

issue a written report or oral findings on the record concerning

an order or recommendation which must be approved by a

superior court judge. The master shall advise the parties on the

record of their right to file objections to any such decisions

pursuant to paragraph (f) of this rule.

(f) Objections to Master’s Report, Recommenda-

tions. Objections to Master’s Report, Recommendations.

Objections to a master’s report or recommendation must be

filed within ten days of service of the report unless the court

requires objections to be filed earlier. In the case of a

recommendation rendered orally on the record where a party

requests an electronic recording of the recommendation, the

time period for objection runs from receipt of the recording. A

reply to the objections must be filed within three days of

service of the objections. The superior court may permit oral

argument, order the taking of further evidence, or grant a

hearing de novo.