3207

Before entering in the discharge of their offices, the referees chosen by the parties to an arbitration agreement or appointed under § 3205 of this title, shall take an oath before an official authorized to administer oaths, binding themselves properly and faithfully to perform the duties of their offices, to hear without prejudice the allegations and impartially examine the points in dispute and make a fair award to the best of their knowledge and belief.\nThe parties to an arbitration agreement, or their counsel, may waive in writing the referees’ taking of oath, and, if the parties to an arbitration agreement begin to hold hearings without objecting to the lack of the oath, the obligation of the referees to take such oath shall then be considered waived.\nHistory —May 8, 1951, No. 376, p. 896, § 7, eff. 90 days after May 8, 1951.