Who is who in a federal case
Pro Se
Pro se means representing yourself in court without a lawyer.
It is a right in federal court for individuals, but not for corporations, partnerships, or LLCs, which must appear through counsel. Courts read pro se filings liberally, but the rules and deadlines still apply in full.
Pro se litigants often appear alongside a request to proceed in forma pauperis, and many districts run a self-help clinic or appoint volunteer counsel in certain civil cases.
Pro se dockets read differently. Filings are often handwritten, deadlines are extended more freely, and the court screens claims early, so the procedural history can look unusual even when the underlying dispute is ordinary. Courts also treat pro se filings with some flexibility on form but none on substance, so a handwritten motion is accepted while a missed deadline is still a missed deadline.
How it appears on a docket
The docket lists the party as Maria Rodriguez, PRO SE, with a mailing address, and orders note that a copy was mailed to her directly.
Governing rule
28 U.S.C. Sec. 1654
Related terms
- In Forma Pauperis — In forma pauperis, often shortened to IFP, is permission to litigate without paying the court's filing fees because you cannot afford them.
- Pro Hac Vice — Pro hac vice is permission for a lawyer admitted in another state to appear in a specific case in this court, for this case only.
More on who is who in a federal case
See this term in a real case
Search federal court records and read the filings where pro se actually shows up. New to federal dockets? Start with how to find a federal case.