“I could very well say that the Majority Opinion shreds the ASM Constitution, mixes the scraps with incoherence, adds a dash of arrogance, and throws the whole atrocious mess down as precedent which destroys any last atom of credibility the Student Judiciary still has, but I will not.”
A person might think this quote is from a disgruntled ASM politico who disagrees with a Student Judiciary decision, but it is not. It is from Vice-Chief Justice Brad Vogel in a dissent from a Judiciary decision earlier this year.
Mr. Vogel’s thoughts are similar to those of many students who have witnessed or have been a part of any Student Judiciary action over the years. The SJ is the arm of ASM that is designed to be nonpolitical and ensure ASM follows its rules and mediate internal disputes, but even those who have won cases in front of the Judiciary rarely have a good word to say about the process or the Justices.
Despite the incompetence of the Judiciary and its wacky decisions over the last three years, the Judiciary is requesting a pay raise. Of course it is not just requesting a small pay raise ? the Judiciary is asking for a 100 percent increase in pay for Associate Justices.
A $1,500 annual stipend for each of five Justices, who will only hear a couple cases per year, and for positions many students would do for free to gain the valuable experience is fiscally irresponsible.
The Judiciary is also requesting a 100 percent increase in the “Miscellaneous” line item, increasing it to $2,000. The reasoning for the increase as stated by SJ in its application is as follows: “The Student Judiciary has used this money in the past for a variety of things, and the increased amount allows for greater flexibility that is necessary for a functional system.”
If that much vagueness does not convince SSFC to give SJ all the money they are requesting, who can imagine what would?
Vogel concluded his dissent in the decision with, “For now, a Kangaroo Court has spoken, but this Justice refuses to be a marsupial.”
The “Miscellaneous” line item should be slashed, and Vice-Justice salaries should be completely deleted. We hope SSFC members will also refuse to be a party to this Kangaroo Court.
Paul Temple did not participate in this editorial due to a conflict of interest.