Massachusetts General Laws Part III. Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases (Ch. 211-262) Ch. 221B, § 2

A committee of child support hearing officers shall certify as child support hearing officers members of the bar of the commonwealth who shall have practiced family law for a minimum period prescribed by the committee. Those certified shall participate in a training program prescribed by the committee, shall possess such other qualifications as the committee on child support hearing officers shall fix, and shall not be justices or clerk-magistrates of the trial court. The committee shall certify hearing officers eligibility for reappointment yearly. The performance of the hearing officer shall be subject to an annual review. Public notice of the review shall be given and members of the public may submit to the committee written comments relating to their performance. The committee shall adopt appropriate rules giving the hearing officers opportunity to respond to written comments concerning recertification. The hearing officer shall serve in the various divisions of the trial court departments, as appointed by the administrative justices of those departments and shall be removable by such administrative justices during their terms.