Legal Definitions - Pro tempore

Pro tempore

Pro tempore, also known as pro tem, is a Latin word that means "for the time being." It is used to describe a temporary or interim position or appointment.

• The president of the student council resigned, so the vice president will serve as pro tempore until a new election can be held.
• The governor appointed a pro tempore judge to fill in for a judge who was on medical leave.

These examples illustrate how pro tempore is used to describe a temporary or interim position. In the first example, the vice president is serving as pro tempore until a new election can be held to fill the position permanently. In the second example, the pro tempore judge is filling in temporarily for a judge who is on medical leave.