A more thorough explanation:

A referee is a judicial official who assists a judge in limited ways, usually by helping to find facts. In bankruptcy proceedings, a referee used to be an official who administered oaths, examined witnesses, and even took possession of property. However, the office of referee was eliminated in 1978 and replaced with a system of permanent bankruptcy judges.

In a court case, a referee may be appointed to help the judge by gathering evidence and making recommendations. For example, in a child custody case, a referee may interview the parents and children and then make a recommendation to the judge about who should have custody.

In bankruptcy proceedings, a referee used to be responsible for many tasks, such as examining witnesses and taking possession of property. For example, if a person filed for bankruptcy, a referee would be responsible for taking possession of their assets and distributing them to creditors.

These examples illustrate how a referee is a judicial official who assists a judge in limited ways, depending on the type of case.