(a) A retired judge of the Court of Common Pleas or Superior Court acting as a state referee, may, at locations designated by the Chief Court Administrator, hear and determine small claims matters and render judgment thereon.

(b) A retired judge of the Circuit Court acting as a state referee may hear and determine small claims matters at locations designated by the Chief Court Administrator. After the hearing, such retired judge shall report his findings to the referring court.

(1972, P.A. 108, S. 11; P.A. 74-183, S. 35, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 67, 681; P.A. 77-576, S. 36, 65; P.A. 78-379, S. 4, 27; P.A. 82-248, S. 33.)

History: P.A. 74-183 included retired judges of common pleas court in provisions and replaced chief judge of circuit court with chief judge of common pleas court, reflecting transfer of duties from circuit court to court of common pleas, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 included retired judges of superior court, deleted reference to judges' power to render judgments on small claims matters and replaced chief judge of common pleas court with chief court administrator, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 rephrased section restoring reference to judges' power to render judgment on small claims matters, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-379 required that retired circuit court judge report findings to referring court, terminating his power to render judgment on small claims matters; P.A. 82-248 reworded section and divided section into Subsecs.