Madison student court drops final challenge to ASM chair vote
Rep. Michael Harry's second brief alleging procedural errors in the April election was dismissed on Sept. 29, securing Haia Al Zein's position.
By Benjamin Bernard ·
The student judiciary of the Associated Students of Madison (ASM) dismissed a second legal challenge from Rep. Michael Harry on Sept. 29. Harry, who ran for chair this spring, had asked the body to review alleged procedural violations that occurred during and after the election. The dismissal ends his final bid to overturn the result.
The dispute began after the April 24 election for chair of the 33rd session, which Harry lost. On April 30, he submitted a petitioner's brief claiming the election results were invalid. He amended that filing on Sept. 14 to add details and request that alleged violators be disqualified from future chair elections.
Harry filed his second brief on Sept. 22. In that document, he argued that the judiciary mishandled its order on his first submission and that Chief Justice Chloe Sieman misapplied rules during proceedings. He also contended that requiring a two-thirds majority to take up the first brief as a special order lacked precedent.
The Student Judiciary had issued an order on Sept. 8 allowing the first brief to be discussed as a special order at the Sept. 16 meeting. That order replaced an earlier version issued in April. At the Sept. 16 student council meeting, representatives voted against adopting the special order. While a majority voted in favor, the group did not reach the two-thirds threshold required. A passing vote would have allowed representatives to re-elect the 33rd session chair by a simple majority.
A majority of student justices recused themselves from deciding the second brief. This group included Chief Justice Sieman, whose recusal Harry had previously requested. Because of these recusals, the judiciary did not assign a full panel to hear the case.
ASM Chair Haia Al Zein welcomed the decision in a statement. "The Student Judiciary's decision gives me hope for the remainder of the 33rd session, and I hope it serves as an opportunity for us to work more collaboratively and move forward in greater unity," Al Zein said. Sieman, Harry, and the student judiciary declined to comment further on the brief.
Source: The Daily Cardinal
