Court Opinion

ID: 9682586
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 08:14:25.96117+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:40.269458
License: Public Domain

DONNELLY, Presiding Judge
(concurring) .
I concur in the principal opinion but desire to comment briefly on the problem raised by appellant’s motion to strike the brief of his lawyer and the tender of his pro se brief.
I recognize there may be isolated instances when an appellate court, in its discretion, will allow an appellant to expressly waive counsel on appeal and proceed to consider the case on the basis of appellant’s pro se brief and the brief of respondent. Cf. Gregg v. State, Mo., 446 S.W.2d 630. However, I do not believe an appellant should be permitted to file a pro se brief in cases wherein his counsel is required to adequately brief the case on appeal.
In State v. Gates, Mo., 466 S.W.2d 681 (decided May 10, 1971), we announced that this Court will insist that counsel for appellants prepare and file briefs on appeal which we consider adequate. In view of this requirement, I would not permit the filing of pro se briefs prepared by appellants or their fellow inmates.