Date: Sun, 6 Apr 1997 12:27:22 -0700
Subject: Propria Persona
From: behold@teleport.com

>Would someone explain what _Propria Persona_ is and what benefits it gives
>you in a court when you are defending yourself?   What is the difference
>between it and PRO SE?

The definition of Pro Per (abbreviation for "Propria Persona")
from Bouvier's Law Dictionary, 8th Ed.,  1859.:

  "In his own person.  It is a rule in pleading that pleas to the
  jurisdiction of the court must be plead in propria persona, because, if
  pleaded by attorney, they admit the jurisdiction, as he is presumed to
  plead after having obtained leave, which admits jurisdiction."  2 Bouvier's
  Law Dictionary 395, 8th Ed. (1859), title "Propria Persona."

Note the definition does not say representing his own person, it says "in
his own person."

Don't say "I am 'representing myself'" when appearing in propria
persona, instead I must say "I am myself."  In other words, we
cannot claim Pro Per character, with the words "I am 'representing
myself'" because these word imply Pro Se character (e.g. the
representative of the litigant, as opposed to the litigant himself).

Do not use the language "representing my self" to claim Pro Per
character, use the language reflecting that "you are yourself", as
defined under the title _propria persona_ in Bouvier's law dictionary.

(i.e. "In my own person", e.g. "I am myself without leave of the court
and I have no intention of requesting leave of the court to 'represent
myself' and I specifically object to any attempt by this court give such
leave, as the court well knows that providing such leave the court
would waive issues of venue and jurisdiction in my behalf without my
consent or power of attorney.)