Illiberal Construction of pro Se Pleadings

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................586 I. PRO SE LITIGATION AND LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION .......................589 A. The Right to Proceed Pro Se ............................................... 590 B. The Federal Pro Se Docket .................................................. 591 1. Evidence of a Burgeoning Caseload ......................591 2. Reasons Litigants Represent Themselves...............593 3. Challenges Facing Pro Se Litigants ........................597 C. Liberal Construction ......................................................... 600 1. The Method by Which Courts Liberally Construe Pro Se Complaints ..................................601 2. The Theory Behind Liberal Construction .............604 II. PLAUSIBILITY AND PRO SE PLEADINGS ...........................................607 A. Ashcroft v. Iqbal ............................................................ 608 1. Background and Prior History ...............................608 2. The Supreme Court’s Two-Pronged Approach .....609 B. Iqbal’s Impact on Pro Se Pleadings .................................... 612 1. The Minimal Assurance Provided Pro Se Litigants by Erickson v. Pardus .................................613 2. Iqbal’s Exceptional Hostility Toward Pro Se Complaints ..............................................................617 3. Explanations for the Disproportionate Increase in Pro Se Dismissals ..................................619