context: Moreover, even if the order had required the parent coordinator to apply the same statutory standard that governs a judge in ruling on a complaint for modification, the statute authorizes, and indeed obligates, the judge to issue the final decision on any modification to the family's custody arrangement. In similar cases we have held that a judge cannot shift the final decision-making authority granted by statute to a third party.
citation_a.signal: see
citation_a.identifier: 438 Mass. 725, 736-737
citation_a.parenthetical: judge could not grant therapist "sole authority" to determine when parent-child visitation would be appropriate where statute obligated judge to make specific findings on issue of visitation
citation_a.sentence: See Silverman v. Spiro, 438 Mass. 725, 736-737 (2003) (judge could not grant therapist “sole authority” to determine when parent-child visitation would be appropriate where statute obligated judge to make specific findings on issue of visitation); Worcester County Trust Co. v. Marble, 316 Mass. 294, 301 (1944) (judge could not delegate to trustee authority to determine what constitutes “reasonable” legal fees where statute requires judge to make that determination).
citation_b.signal: see also
citation_b.identifier: 61 Mass. App. Ct. 779, 785-786
citation_b.parenthetical: judge cannot delegate wholesale to guardian ad litem statutory duty to conduct in camera review of documents over which privilege asserted
citation_b.sentence: See also P.W. v. M.S., 61 Mass. App. Ct. 779, 785-786 (2006) (judge cannot delegate wholesale to guardian ad litem statutory duty to conduct in camera review of documents over which privilege asserted).