The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a veritable shutdown of the entire country. Federal and state courts are not exempt. In response, they have significantly curtailed their activities. Jury trials have been suspended, criminal proceedings delayed and rulings on discovery and pretrial motions in many civil cases postponed. All of this adds up to court systems under great stress.

When the courts emerge from this current crisis, judicial resources will be at a premium. Having priority on the docket, criminal matters will take up much of a court’s time, leaving civil cases to accumulate and causing delays to multiply. Courts and lawyers must adopt creative approaches to ensure civil dockets do not get neglected and parties secure timely access to justice. Therefore, it is especially worth noting that special masters are well situated to assist courts and litigants as they confront these challenges.