Legal Definitions - Master of the Supreme Court

A Master of the Supreme Court is a senior judicial officer who plays a crucial role in managing cases within specific divisions of the High Court (historically, the Queen's Bench and Chancery Divisions in the UK's Supreme Court system). Unlike judges who preside over full trials, Masters primarily handle the procedural, administrative, and interlocutory (interim) aspects of litigation. They ensure cases progress efficiently, make decisions on pre-trial applications, and manage the overall timeline of a case, freeing up judges to focus on substantive trials.

Here are a few examples to illustrate the role of a Master of the Supreme Court:

• Managing Pre-Trial Procedures: Imagine a large construction company suing a subcontractor for breach of contract. Before the actual trial can begin, there are numerous steps like exchanging detailed evidence, disclosing relevant documents, and setting deadlines for expert witness reports. A Master would oversee this entire pre-trial process, holding hearings to resolve disputes over document disclosure, setting strict timelines for each stage, and ensuring both parties adhere to court rules. If one party fails to meet a deadline, the Master might issue an order compelling compliance or impose a penalty.

  This illustrates how a Master ensures the smooth and timely progression of a case, handling the complex administrative and procedural aspects before it reaches a full trial judge.

• Deciding on Interim Applications: Consider a situation where a claimant in a defamation case wants to obtain an urgent injunction to prevent the defendant from publishing further defamatory statements while the main case is ongoing. This kind of urgent, interim request, which doesn't resolve the entire dispute but is critical for managing the situation in the short term, would typically be heard and decided by a Master. They would weigh the arguments from both sides and determine if an injunction is necessary and appropriate at that stage.

  This example highlights the Master's authority to make important decisions on applications that arise during the course of litigation but before the final judgment.

• Assessing Legal Costs: After a successful personal injury claim, the court orders the losing party to pay the winning party's legal costs. However, the exact amount of these costs is often disputed. A Master would be responsible for "assessing" or "taxing" these costs. They would review the detailed invoices and arguments from both legal teams, applying court rules and precedents to determine a fair and reasonable amount that the losing party must pay. This process ensures that legal costs are proportionate and justified.

  This demonstrates the Master's role in resolving financial disputes related to litigation, specifically in determining the recoverable amount of legal expenses.