Opinion ID: 2441233
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sufficiency of Appellant's Brief

Text: The majority bases its refusal to rule on a uncharitably narrow reading of the appellant's brief. Certainly, the brief is far from perfect. But I am far less inclined than is the majority to hold the deficiencies of his State-appointed counsel against Mr. Hendricks. He is currently imprisoned in the Ozark Correctional Center. If it is to condemn him to serve out his seven year sentence, the majority ought to at least address the substance of his appeal. It is simply not the case that the Court strictly enforces briefing rules in the way that the majority suggests. Today we hand down an opinion that describes a far less draconian approach: this Court's policy is to decide a case on its merits rather than on technical deficiencies in the brief. Generally, we will not exercise discretion to disregard a defective point unless the deficiency impedes disposition on the merits. [1] The quality of the appellant's brief did not preclude the court of appeals from deciding the case on the merits. In fact, that court found the question to be so compelling as to necessitate transfer here. The quality of the briefing does not so obscure the issue that this Court cannot also make a decision. Another concern in requiring briefs that address the issues presented is fairness. We have held that briefs must reasonably isolate the issue so as to ensure that the opposing side has a chance to respond. [2] Here, again, there is no doubt that the State recognized the issue and was able to make its case. The respondent's brief does not claim that appellant's brief is fatally insufficient; in fact, the State's brief contains a lengthy section entitled Issues Raised in Appellant's Brief. The majority is alone in being unable to discern the issue.