master

A master is an antiquated term which referred to an employer and has since been supplanted by the latter term. A master is also a party in a relationship between a master and servant , which is now primarily referred to as the employment relationship. This relationship can exist, for example, between an employer and an employee or an employer and an independent contractor .

A master is also a court-appointed officer who is given authority to operate similarly to a judge but in a limited manner, so as to facilitate a court’s proceedings. The duties of a master include handling various pretrial affairs such as conducting investigations on land titles , recording testimony , resolving discovery disputes, or even deciding certain issues in a case. A master usually submits a written report to the court after carrying out these duties. Appointment of masters is governed by Rule 53 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure .