Suo Moto

A Latin phrase meaning "on its own motion" used in legal contexts to indicate a court taking an action on its own initiative, rather than in response to a party's request.
The court took suo moto notice of the jurisdictional issue and dismissed the case.
While not a common term, it appears in various court cases where a judge raises an issue not presented by the parties.
← Back to BrowseNext Term →

Frequently Asked Questions

A court may raise a jurisdictional issue, question the sufficiency of a pleading, or order additional briefing on a particular issue.

Ensures that courts have the authority to address critical issues that may impact the case, even if not raised by the parties.

May take parties by surprise and lead to unfairness if they are not adequately prepared to address the court-raised issue.

See all that Filevine can do with a customized demonstration from our team

Schedule a Demo