Propria persona

propria persona

adj. from Latin, for oneself. (See: in propria persona, in pro per, pro per)

PROPRIA PERSONA. In his own person. It is a rule in pleading that pleas to the jurisdiction of the court must be pleaded in propria persona, because, if pleaded by attorney, they admit the jurisdiction, as an attorney is an officer of the court, and he is presumed to plead after having obtained leave, which admits the jurisdiction. Lawes on Pl. 91.
2. An appearance may be in propria persona, and need not be by attorney.