Masters may be assigned trial duties and may be appointed to act as experts, and to testify as such. Parties may agree to have their dispute heard by a master, either for final decision or subject to review by the court. The court may refer trial of matters to a master for findings and recommendations. Masters may take and interpret of technical or complex evidence and may be assigned to compile voluminous data.

Another role, that of technical advisor to the court, has a fine pedigree and is long accepted as within a court’s inherent authority. The technical advisor to the court is a judicial tutor and provides guidance on complex or specialized subject matter. When an advisor is utilized, the trial court conducts the trial with support from the advisor.