Opinion ID: 1901249
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Master

Text: The appointment of a master by the trial court was not premature, contrary to the Appellate Division's determination. As stated above, we believe that upon invalidation of an ordinance and the issuance of an order to rezone, trial courts may, in their discretion, freely appoint a master to aid in the implementation of their order, and need not await voluntary compliance on the part of the municipality, as suggested by the Appellate Division. We disapprove, however, of the apparent delegation of judicial power by the trial court to the master in this case. It must in the end be the judge and not the master who decides what actions will constitute compliance with our mandate. In this case it is quite clear, at least from the trial court's language, that the court intended simply to adopt the master's determination as to compliance. We therefore reverse the Appellate Division judgment and remand to the trial court for proceedings consistent with this opinion.