Referee Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Referee, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Referee?

(n) A referee is the person who was appointed by a court to study any particular aspects of the case referred to him and report to the court his or her finding. For example an auditor was appointed to study, collect evidence and report about the correctness of accounts of the subject matter of the case

History and Meaning of Referee

A referee is typically a neutral third party appointed by a court to investigate and report on a specific issue or dispute in a case. The history of the use of referees in legal proceedings can be dated back to ancient Roman law, which used arbiters to adjudicate disputes. In modern legal practice, referees are often used in complex cases where their expertise can assist the court in making a decision.

The appointment of a referee can be agreed upon by the parties involved in the case or ordered by the court. Once appointed, the referee is given a specific topic or issue to investigate and report back to the court. The findings of the referee can be used as evidence in the case and can assist the judge in making a final decision.

Examples of Referee

  1. In a construction dispute case, a referee may be appointed to assess the damage done to a property and report back to the court on the cost of repairs.

  2. In a family law case, a referee may be appointed to investigate issues such as child custody arrangements or the division of property.

  3. In a complex financial case, a referee may be appointed to investigate issues such as the appropriateness of investment strategies.

Legal Terms Similar to Referee

  1. Mediator - a neutral third party appointed to help parties involved in a dispute reach a settlement.
  2. Arbitrator - a neutral third party appointed to resolve disputes between parties outside of the court system.
  3. Expert Witness - a person with specialized knowledge or expertise on a topic who is called upon to provide testimony in a case.