Sua sponte

“Sua sponte” is a term used in the legal context which means “of its own accord” or “on its own motion”. When a court takes actions on its own without being prompted by the parties involved in the case, it is referred to as “sua sponte”. For instance, the court may dismiss a case sua sponte if it determines that there are procedural defects or if the case lacks merit. Similarly, a judge may issue a ruling sua sponte if they believe it is necessary for the proper administration of justice, even if neither party has requested it.