The courts operate under a system of “voluntary submission”, and require your consent.
When questioned why you have appeared before the court, usually by the simple action of asking your name, they are trying to get you to “consent” to a general appearance, resulting in the “acceptance” of their jurisdiction and loss of your sovereign status.
An appearance in court may be either general or special:
General: is a simple and unqualified or unrestricted submission to the jurisdiction of the court.
Special: is a submission to the jurisdiction for some specific purpose only, not for all the purposes of the suit.
Meaning, a general appearance is made where the defendant waives defects of service and submits to the jurisdiction of the court.
Whereas a special appearance is for the purpose of testing, or objecting to, the sufficiency of service or the jurisdiction of the court over the defendant or respondent, without submitting to such jurisdiction.
Special Appearance