Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, § 11

The clerk of a division of the housing court department may appoint 1 or more assistant clerks, who shall be removable at his pleasure. 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.