Pro Tem is an abbreviated form of Pro Tempore, a Latin phrase that means “for the time being.” The term is usually used with an office to note that the individual serving in that role is there temporarily. For instance, a judge pro tem is a judge elected or appointed to act for, in absence, sickness, or disqualification of, a regular judge, and is only a substitute, not duplicate, judge, according to Hargadon v. Silk. Likewise, an officer pro tem is an officer authorized to execute the duties of such office for the time being, according to State v. Thomas.
[Last updated in August of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team]