# § 798. Places of holding court; appointment of special masters
**(a)** The United States Court of Federal Claims is authorized to use facilities and hold court in Washington, District of Columbia, and throughout the United States (including its territories and possessions) as necessary for compliance with sections 173 and 2503(c) of this title. The facilities of the Federal courts, as well as other comparable facilities administered by the General Services Administration, shall be made available for trials and other proceedings outside of the District of Columbia.
**(b)** Upon application of a party or upon the judge’s own initiative, and upon a showing that the interests of economy, efficiency, and justice will be served, the chief judge of the Court of Federal Claims may issue an order authorizing a judge of the court to conduct proceedings, including evidentiary hearings and trials, in a foreign country whose laws do not prohibit such proceedings, except that an interlocutory appeal may be taken from such an order pursuant to section 1292(d)(2) of this title, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit may, in its discretion, consider the appeal.
**(c)** The chief judge of the Court of Federal Claims may appoint special masters to assist the court in carrying out its functions. Any special masters so appointed shall carry out their responsibilities and be compensated in accordance with procedures set forth in the rules of the court.
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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 98–620, title IV, § 416(a), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3364; amended Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, §§ 902(a)(2), 906(a), (b), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516–4518.)
## Editorial Notes
### Amendments
1992—Subsec. (a). , amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “The United States Claims Court is hereby authorized to utilize facilities and hold court in Washington, District of Columbia, and in four locations outside of the Washington, District of Columbia metropolitan area, for the purpose of conducting trials and such other proceedings as may be appropriate to executing the court’s functions. The Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall designate such locations and provide for such facilities.”
Subsec. (b). , added subsec. (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (c).
Subsec. (c). , §§ 902(a)(2), 906(b)(1), redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c) and substituted “Court of Federal Claims” for “Claims Court”.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Amendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .