SB 802 Summary

• Authorizes Oklahoma district courts to appoint discovery masters to handle discovery-related duties with party consent or to address pretrial and posttrial discovery matters, with required findings that appointment is necessary and benefits outweigh burdens.

• Establishes disqualification procedures requiring discovery masters to meet the same standards as judges, with 14-day disclosure deadlines and multi-level review process through assigned judge, presiding judge, and Supreme Court.

• Specifies appointing order contents including discovery master duties, ex parte communication rules, record preservation requirements, compensation procedures, and standards for court review of orders and recommendations.

• Grants discovery masters authority to regulate discovery proceedings, call conferences, resolve disputes, take evidence, and recommend sanctions per Oklahoma Statutes Sections 2004.1, 3226.1, and 3237.

• Provides immunity from civil liability for discovery masters acting in their capacity, allows court de novo review of factual and legal conclusions, and prohibits compensation from court funds with payment allocated based on parties' means and responsibility.