Rule 3.920. Purposes and conditions for appointment of referee
Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.920
Current text effective January 1, 2007.
#(a) Purposes prescribed by statute
A court may order the appointment of a referee under Code of Civil Procedure section 639 only for the purposes specified in that section.
#(b) No references for mediation
A court must not use the reference procedure under Code of Civil Procedure section 639 to appoint a person to conduct a mediation.
#(c) Conditions for appointment of discovery referee
A discovery referee must not be appointed under Code of Civil Procedure section 639(a)(5) unless the exceptional circumstances of the particular case require the appointment.
#History
Rule 3.920 adopted effective January 1, 2007.
Official text: courts.ca.gov , checked October 19, 2026.
#Advisory Committee Comment
Rule 3.920(b) is not intended to prohibit a court from appointing a referee to conduct a mandatory settlement conference in a complex case or, following the conclusion of a reference, from appointing a person who previously served as a referee to conduct a mediation.