sua sponte

American  

[soo-uh spon-tee, -tey] / ˈsu ə ˈspɒn ti, -teɪ /

adverb

Law.

1. (used by a judge or court to indicate that a motion is coming from the court itself and was not introduced or prompted by either party to the judicial matter.)

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Etymology

Origin of sua sponte

First recorded in 1805–15; from Latin: “by one's free will”; cf. suicide ( def. ), spontaneous ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sua sponte

I patiently explained that neither law clerks nor justices get to imprison people sua sponte.

From Slate ● Apr. 3, 2026

Even without this complaint, the Grievance Committee could also act sua sponte where infamous criminal notoriety might instead suffice, as may have been the case when it disbarred Michael Cohen.

From Slate ● Nov. 20, 2019

All the civilian female defense attorneys wore Islamic headdresses when their clients were present—not at the request of their clients, nor for religious reasons, but sua sponte, to build trust.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 21, 2018

Ann. vi. 23; whereas sua sponte, quite of one’s own accord, like αὐτομάτως, in opp. to rogatus, provocatus, or invitatus.

From Döderlein's Hand-book of Latin Synonymes by Döderlein, Ludwig