Most U.S. states and the District of Columbia have a constitutional, statutory, judicial code, or court decision provision either expressly or by interpretation allowing self-representation in state courts.
Stateor federal districtProvisionLanguageAlabamaConst. Art 1 § 10"That no person shall be barred from prosecuting or defending before any tribunal in this state, by himself or counsel, any civil cause to which he is a party."AlabamaAlabama Canons of Judicial Ethics Canon III a 4 "A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, the right to be heard according to law"AlaskaStat § 22.20.040 (1996)"An action or proceeding may be prosecuted or defended by a party in person or by an attorney..."ArizonaConst. art II § 11"Justice in all cases shall be administered openly..."ArizonaArizona Code of Judicial Conduct Canon III a 7 "A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, the right to be heard according to law."ArkansasConst. Art 11 § 13"Every person is entitled to a certain remedy in the laws for all injuries or wrongs he may receive in his person, property or character; he ought to obtain justice freely, and without purchase, completely, and without denial, promptly and without delay, conformably to the laws.ArkansasARKANSAS CODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT Canon III a 7 "A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, the right to be heard according to law" CaliforniaConstitution Art 1 § 3"The people have the right to...petition government for redress of grievances"CaliforniaRules of Civil Procedure Rule Rule 1290 "Any person named as a respondent in a petition may file a response thereto"CaliforniaCalifornia Code of Judicial Ethics III b 7 "A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law.*"'CaliforniaBoard of Commissioners v. Younger (1865) 29 Cal. 147, 149 "A party to an action may appear in his own proper person or by attorneyBoard of Commissioners v. Younger (1865) 29 Cal. 147, 149ColoradoConstitution Art 2 § 6"Courts of justice shall be open to every person, and a speedy remedy afforded for every injury to person, property or character, and right and justice should be administered without sale, denial or delay"ColoradoSupreme Court Tassian v. People, 731 P.2d 672 (Colo. 20 January 1987) "The chief judge's directive at issue here clearly discriminates against pro se litigants solely on the basis of their pro se status and, in that respect, lacks any rational basis in fact and thus violates equal protection of the laws"Tassian v. People, 731 P.2d 672 (Colo. 20 January 1987)ColoradoColorado Code of Judicial Conduct Canon III a 7 "A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law"' ConnecticutConstitution Art 1 § 10"All courts shall be open, and every person, for an injury done to him in his person, property or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law, and right and justice administered without sale, denial or delay."ConnecticutState of Connecticut Judicial Branch Frequently Asked Questions"You have a right to represent yourself in all court cases. Representing yourself is called acting pro se. Pro Se is a Latin phrase that means "for yourself."ConnecticutConnecticut Code of Judicial Conduct Canon 3 a 4 "A judge should accord to every person who is legally interested in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law" DelawareConstitution Art 1 § 9"All courts shall be open; and every man for an injury done him in his reputation, person, moveable or immovable possessions shall have remedy by the due course of law, and justice administered according to the very right of the cause and the law of the land, without sale, denial, or unreasonable delay or expense.DelawareDelaware Judge's Code of Judicial Conduct Canon II R. 2.6(A)"A judge should accord to every person who is legally interested in a proceeding, or to the person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law" District of ColumbiaSt A Ct Rule 47"Nothing in these rules shall be construed to prevent any person who is without counsel from prosecuting or defending an appeal in which that person is a party."District of ColumbiaCode of Judicial Conduct Canon III b 7 "A judge should accord to every person who is legally interested in a proceeding, or to the person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law,"FloridaConst. Art 1 § 21"The courts shall be open to every person for redress of any injury and justice shall be administered without sale, denial or delay"FloridaCode of Judicial Conduct for the State of Florida Canon III B 7"A judge should accord to every person who is legally interested in a proceeding, or to the person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law"GeorgiaConst. art 1, § 1, paragraph XII"No person shall be deprive of the right to prosecute or defend, either in person or by an attorney, that person's own cause in any of the courts of this state."GeorgiaGeorgia Code of Judicial Conduct Canon III B 7 "A judge should accord to every person who is legally interested in a proceeding, or to the person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law,HawaiiConst. Art 1 § 4"No law shall be enacted...abridging...the right of the people...to petition the government for a redress of grievances."HawaiiRevised Code of Judicial Conduct Canon III a 7 "A judge should accord to every person who is legally interested in a proceeding, or to the person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law"IdahoConst. art 1 § 18"Courts of justice shall be open to every person, and a speedy remedy afforded for every injury of person, property or character, and right and justice shall be administered without sale, denial, delay or prejudice".IdahoIDAHO CODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT Canon III a 7 "A judge should accord to every person who is legally interested in a proceeding, or to the person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law,IllinoisConst. art 1 § 12"Every person shall find a certain remedy in the laws for all injuries and wrongs which he receives to his person, privacy, property or reputation. He shall obtain justice by law, freely, completely, and promptly."IllinoisILLINOIS CODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT Canon III a 7 IndianaConst. art 1 § 12"All courts shall be open; and every person, for injury done to him in his person, property, or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law. Justice shall be administered freely, and without purchase; completely, and without denial; speedily, and without delay."IndianaJudicial Canon III b 8"A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law."IowaConst. art 1 § 20"The people shall have the right to ... petition for redress of grievances."IowaIowa Court Rules Division II"a party specially authorized by statute may sue in that person's own name" KansasConst. Bill of Rights § 18"All persons, for injuries suffered in person, reputation or property, shall have remedy by due course of law, and justice administered without delay."KansasKansas Code of Judicial Conduct Canon III a 7"A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law."KentuckyConst. § 14"All courts shall be open, and every person for an injury done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law, and right and justice administered without sale, denial or delay."KentuckyJudicial Canon III a 7 SCR 4.300A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law.LouisianaConst. art 1 § 22"All courts shall be open, and every person shall have an adequate remedy by due process of law and justice, administered without denial, partiality, or unreasonable delay, for injury to him in his person, property, reputation or other rights."LouisianaLouisiana Code of Judicial Conduct Canon III a 7 "A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law" MaineConst. art 1 § 19 and § 20"Every person, for an injury inflicted on the person or the person's reputation, property, or immunities, shall have a remedy by due course of law; and right and reputation shall be administered freely and without sale, completely and without denial, promptly and without delay."; "In all civil suits, and in all controversies concerning property, the parties shall have a right to trial by jury, except in cases where it has heretofore been otherwise practiced; the party claiming the right may be heard by himself or herself and with counsel..."MaineMaine Code of Judicial Conduct Canon III a 7 "A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law" MarylandConst. Declaration of Rights art 19"That every man, for any injury done to him in his person or property, ought to have remedy by the course of the Law of the land, and ought to have justice and right, freely without dale, fully without any denial, and speedily without delay, according to the Law of the land."MarylandRule 16-813 Maryland Code of Judicial Conduct Canon III a 6 a "A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law" MassachusettsConst. art XI"Every subject of the commonwealth ought to find a certain remedy, by having recourse to the laws, for all injuries or wrongs which he may receive in his person, property, or character., He ought to obtain right and justice freely, and without being obliged to purchase it, completely, and without any denial; promptly, and without delay, conformably to the laws."MassachusettsCODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT Code of Judicial Conduct Canon III a 4 "A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law"MichiganConst. Art. I § 13 Conduct of suits in person or by counsel."A suitor in any court of this state has the right to prosecute or defend his suit, either in his own proper person or by an attorney."MinnesotaConst Art 1 § 8"Every person is entitled to a certain remedy in the laws for all injuries or wrongs which he may receive to his person. property or character, and to obtain justice freely and without purchase, completely and without denial, promptly and without delay, conformable to the laws."MinnesotaMinnesota Code of Judicial Conduct Canon III a 7 "A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law" MississippiConst Art III § 25"No personal shall be debarred from prosecuting or defending any civil cause for or against himself, before any tribunal in the state, by him or himself, or both"MississippiCode of Judicial Conduct of Mississippi Judges as adopted April 4, 2002 Canon III a 7 "A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law"MissouriConst Art II § 14"That the courts of justice shall be open to every person, and certain remedy afforded for every injury, property or character, and that right and justice shall be administered without sale, denial or delay."Missouri Missouri Courts Rule 2 Code of Judicial Conduct Canon III b 7 "A judge shall accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law"'MontanaConst. Art. II § 16"Courts of justice