Representing Yourself in Federal Court

If you wish to start a civil action in federal court, but do not have an attorney to represent you, you may bring your case on your own.

This is called "proceeding pro se" which means that you are representing yourself in the Court, and you are called a "pro se litigant."

A civil case, which is the only type of case you can start in federal court, is different from a criminal case, which can only be started

by government officials. In a civil case, you do not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel. Therefore, if you start a civil case

pro se, you should be prepared to pursue it to completion on your own because the Court appoints counsel only under certain

circumstances that may not be met by your case.

The Court can provide you with certain types of assistance to make it a little easier to bring your case pro se in federal court. Read

the Pro Se Handbook before you start your case, so that you understand the help the Court can provide and so that you become

familiar with the forms the Court can make available to you and the Rules you must follow in the Court.

FORMS		REFERENCES
Affidavit of Service by Mail Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis Civil Case Cover Sheet Motion for Appointment of Counsel Petition for Habeas Corpus 28:2241 Petition for Habeas Corpus 28:2254 Sharpe Motion (related to Soc Sec App) Social Security Appeal Package Summons - Soc Sec App - U.S. Attorney Summons - Soc Sec App - Atty General Summons - Soc Sec App - General Counsel Sample Complaint Forms Complaint - 42 U.S.C. 1983 Complaint - 42 U.S.C. 1983 (Inmate) Complaint - Age Discrimination Complaint - Americans with Disabilities Act Complaint - Bivens Action Complaint - Title VII Civil Rights Act		Dictionary.com Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Glossary of common legal terms Legal Aid & Lawyer Referral Services Local Rules of this Court (2013) Local Rule 8.1 - Personal Privacy Protection Notification of the Consequences of Failing to Respond to a Summary Judgment Motion Pro Se Handbook Assisted Mediation Pilot Program   Pro Se Assistance Program
Before submitting papers to the Court......

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