Jurisdiction, Venue, and Forum
Court Structure
Rule 53 permits appointment to address pretrial matters that cannot be effectively handled by the court, conduct trials on consent, or perform accountings. Costs are typically allocated among the parties.
The appointment order defines authority and review standards.
Alternative Names:
Master|Court-Appointed Master
Why it Matters?
Cost allocation is negotiated in the appointment order and can be substantial in document-intensive cases, which makes the allocation as important as the appointment itself. Review standards are also set by the order and may provide de novo review of legal conclusions with deference to factual findings. Objecting to appointment is easier than modifying the order afterward, so terms should be addressed before entry.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Who bears the cost?
When should terms be negotiated?
