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 Kentucky, a special master or master in chancery can be appointed by the court to assist with complex aspects of a lawsuit, such as managing the discovery process. 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 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 the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically Rule 53, which outlines the circumstances under which a master may be appointed, their powers, duties, and the procedures for their reports. The court may assign to the special master duties consistent with the rule, which may include making recommendations to the judge on how to resolve discovery-related disputes. The goal of appointing a special master is to streamline the legal process and provide specialized assistance to the court in resolving issues that are beyond the typical scope of legal expertise.