Legal Definitions - Special master

A "special master" is a person appointed by a court to carry out a specific action on its behalf. This person is different from a "master" who only investigates and compiles evidence or documents for the court's future action. However, the term "special master" is often used for people doing investigative work as well.

Special masters can be appointed for various activities, such as facilitating child custody cases or resolving boundary disputes between states. For example, in New Jersey v. New York, a special master was appointed to resolve questions of geography or historical claims. In U.S. v. Microsoft, a special master was appointed to advise the court about technical issues and investigate certain claims.

Another example is when attorneys taking a deposition in a distant location anticipate that a witness will refuse to testify or some other problem will arise. In such cases, judges may appoint a special master to make evidentiary rulings on the spot.

Overall, a special master is a person appointed by a court to carry out a specific action on its behalf, and their activities can vary depending on the case.