Rule 130.04 Functions and Powers of Commissioner

A juvenile or family court commissioner handles cases that the administrative judge assigns to them. When a case is assigned, the commissioner can manage it almost exactly like a judge would. They can hear evidence, make decisions about what happened in the case, and issue findings and recommendations.

However, a commissioner's power stops at the cases they're given. They don't automatically have extra administrative authority over the court just because they hold this position. If the administrative judge wants the commissioner to take on other duties beyond handling assigned cases, that judge has to specifically give them that responsibility.

In short, this rule means a commissioner acts like a judge, but only for the specific cases they're assigned. Any other authority has to come directly from the administrative judge.