A Brooklyn federal judge said yesterday he may appoint a referee to weigh claims of “potentially thousands” of black and Hispanic FDNY applicants who say they never got a fair shot because the entrance exam discriminated against minorities.

The “special master” would have the power to award back pay and grant priority hiring and seniority privileges to the would-be firefighters.

That would settle one element of a lawsuit filed in 2002 by the Vulcan Society, a fraternal organization of black firefighters.

Each applicant would have a hearing under the proposal by Judge Nicholas Garaufis, a move that could further delay the long-running legal dispute.

The second element, the fairness of the test itself, will be considered by Garaufis in a nonjury trial beginning Aug 1.

Last October, Garaufis barred the city from hiring new firefighters, saying the test discriminated against blacks and Hispanics.

The city is currently creating a new firefighter test that could be ready by December. Meanwhile, hiring continues to remain on hold.