Pursuant to the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-5-402(b)(4), the terms and conditions of the appointment of magistrates in child support cases, as magistrates are defined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-401(2), shall be prescribed by rule of the Supreme Court.
When the appointment of a magistrate is required and authorized by the Court, the director of the Administrative Office of the Courts shall so notify the presiding judge of the judicial district (or in counties having a metropolitan form of government, the director shall notify the trial court judge who hears more than 50%of the child support and domestic relations cases in such judicial district) and the appointment shall be made by the presiding judge in conformity with T.C.A. § 36-5-402. The appointment of magistrate in juvenile court shall not be governed by this provision but shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter 1 of Title 37.
The director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, with the approval of the Chief Justice, shall determine the terms and conditions of the appointment of the magistrate for the purpose of hearing child support cases. Such terms and conditions of magistrate appointment, pursuant to T.C.A. § 36-5-402(b)(4), shall include, but not be limited to, the rate of compensation to be paid, reimbursement of expenses, and whether the position shall be full time or part time.
Tenn. R. Sup. Ct., 22