A special master or master in chancery is an individual appointed by the court to assist with some part of a lawsuit, such as discovery—depositions, written questions, and production of documents—and to make recommendations to the judge on how to resolve related disputes. Courts have held that discovery questions that require extensive examination of highly technical and complex documents by a person having both a technical and a legal background may constitute an exceptional condition sufficient to justify the appointment of a master to supervise such discovery.

In Maryland, a special master or master in chancery is appointed by the court to assist with complex aspects of a lawsuit, particularly during the discovery phase. This appointment is typically made under Maryland Rule 2-541, which allows for the appointment of a master in cases where the issues are sufficiently complex and require specialized expertise that the court may not possess. The role of the special master includes overseeing depositions, managing the exchange of written questions and documents, and making recommendations to the judge on how to resolve disputes that arise during discovery. The appointment of a special master is considered an exceptional measure, reserved for cases involving highly technical or complex documents that demand the analytical skills of someone with both technical knowledge and a legal background. The use of a special master is intended to streamline the legal process and provide the court with expert insight to aid in the resolution of intricate legal matters.