ASM Chair Dispute: Student Judiciary Drops Second Challenge

The Associated Students of Madison student judiciary dismissed a brief from Rep. Michael Harry on Sept. 29. This action ended Harry's latest legal attempt to change the outcome of the spring chair election.

Harry filed the second brief on Sept. 22. In it, he claimed the judiciary mishandled its previous order and that Chief Justice Chloe Sieman misapplied rules during proceedings. He also argued that requiring a two-thirds majority to take up his first brief as a special order lacked precedent.

The dispute began with the April 24 election for the 33rd session chair, which Harry lost to Haia Al Zein. On April 30, Harry sent a petitioner's brief arguing the results were invalid. He amended that filing on Sept. 14 to request that alleged violators be disqualified from future chair races.

The Student Judiciary issued an order on Sept. 8 to discuss Harry's first brief as a special order at the Sept. 16 council meeting. At that meeting, ASM representatives voted against adopting the order. A majority supported the motion, but the vote fell short of the required two-thirds majority. Had the motion passed, representatives could have re-elected the chair by a simple majority.

In the dismissal notice, a majority of student justices recused themselves. This included Chief Justice Sieman, whose recusal Harry had requested. Because of these recusals, the body did not assign a full panel to decide the case.

Al Zein responded to the decision in a statement. She said the ruling gives her hope for the remainder of the 33rd session. She expressed a desire for the group to work more collaboratively and move forward in greater unity.

Harry, Sieman, and the student judiciary all declined to provide further comment on the brief.