28 U.S.C. § 655 — Arbitrators

(a) Powers. An arbitrator handling an action referred under section 654 may, within the referring district^* court’s judicial district^*: (1) hold arbitration hearings; (2) administer oaths and affirmations; and (3) make awards.
(b) Certification. Each district court^* that authorizes arbitration must set certification standards and certify arbitrators under those standards and this chapter. The standards must require each arbitrator to (1) take the oath or affirmation described in section 453 and (2) follow the disqualification rules in section 455.
(c) Immunity. People serving as arbitrators in an alternative dispute-resolution program under this chapter perform quasi-judicial functions and receive the immunities and protections that law gives people serving in that capacity.