The clerk of a division of the housing court department may, subject to the approval of the first justice, appoint one or more assistant clerks, who shall be removable at his pleasure or at the pleasure of the chief justice. The clerk shall be responsible for all official acts of the assistant clerks and all powers conferred by statute upon the clerk, unless otherwise stated, and in any event subject to limitation by the clerk or the administrative justice, may be exercised by an assistant clerk.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, § 11