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 South Dakota, a special master, also known as a master in chancery, can be appointed by the court to assist with complex aspects of a lawsuit, particularly during the discovery phase. This includes overseeing depositions, written questions, and the production of documents. The appointment of a special master is typically justified under exceptional conditions, such as when the discovery process involves the examination of highly technical and complex documents that require expertise from someone with both technical knowledge and a legal background. The use of a special master is governed by South Dakota's rules of civil procedure, and their role is to make recommendations to the judge to help resolve disputes related to the discovery process. The judge may adopt, modify, or reject the recommendations made by the special master. The appointment of a special master is at the discretion of the court and is intended to ensure that the discovery process is conducted efficiently and effectively, particularly in cases where specialized knowledge is necessary to understand the matters at issue.