Opinion ID: 770192
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sufficiently Raised Issue on Appeal

Text: 11 We hold that Lim sufficiently raised issues on appeal, and thus we decline to dismiss. Read liberally, Lim's pro se opening brief, although unburdened by authority, suggests that Lim seeks asylum because he suffered past political persecution and fears future political persecution by an armed and aggressive anti-government group. His supplemental brief, with which he was assisted by counsel, contains citations to authorities and more traditional legal argument. The Government does not suggest that the issues on appeal are unclear and, indeed, the Government has fully and capably briefed those issues. 12 It is true that Lim's opening brief fails to fulfill several formal requirements, including failing to provide either a jurisdictional statement or citations to authority. See Fed. R. App. P. 28(a)(4), (9). Courts, however, frequently refuse to dismiss pro se appeals for formal defects where the opposing party suffers no prejudice. See, e.g., Balisteri v. Pacifica Police Dept., 901 F.2d 696 (9th Cir. 1988) (pro se appellant's failure to comply with formal requirements did not justify dismissal); U.S. v. Sanders, 434 F.2d 219 (4th Cir. 1970) (per curiam) (pro se appeal not dismissed for failure to supply citations to authority). Although courts do not offer a briefing service, courts also do not bar the doors to pro se pleaders.