Should Pro Se Be Italicized?

Legal Terminology

  • Terms not to italicize: arguendo, eg, ie, in limine, prima facie, pro hac vice, pro se, quantum meruit, res judicata
  • Terms to italicize: in forma pauperis, inter alia

Ex Parte Order

A judicial order is ex parte when taken for one party without notice to others.

Pro Se Representation

  • Pro se means defending oneself without legal representation.
  • A pro se defendant represents oneself in court without counsel.
  • Avoid italicizing familiar Latin terms like per se, pro se, and status quo.

Using Per Se

  • The phrase “per se” does not have to be italicized.
  • Use italics for foreign words not integrated into English language.

Pro Per and Pro Se

  • Pro Per and Pro Se are used interchangeably.
  • The terms apply to someone who represents themselves in legal proceedings.

Pro Se in Court

  • Pro se refers to representing yourself without legal counsel.

Self-Representation

  • In pro per means self-representation.

Pro Se Litigants

  • Pro se litigants represent themselves.
  • The success of a pro se case is determined by a qualified attorney.

Pro se Success

  • Pro se defendants may have inherent bias due to limited perspectives.

Per Se

  • Foreign words in the English dictionary do not need italicization.

Pro Se Definition

  • Pro se is Latin for “in one’s own behalf.”
  • Pro se litigants can act as their own attorneys.

Writing Terminology

  • Prose is free-flowing language without structure.

Legal Representation

  • Pro Se litigants can represent themselves in court.

Defining Per Se

  • Per se is an adverb meaning “by itself.”
  • No comma is needed before per se.

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