All students at the University of Wisconsin, for better or worse, are members of the Associated Students of Madison. Although this name may not be familiar to most students, for student organizations, it is very important.

ASM is UW’s student government, charged with the distribution of segregated fees to organizations through either the Student Services Finance Committee or the ASM Finance Committee. Whereas the activities of these two organizations — as well as the bus pass and Student Print — have made ASM known to some of the general student population, the Student Judiciary serves the students in a different capacity.

Vested with judicial authority by Wisconsin state law, the Student Judiciary has jurisdiction over all ASM elections, settles disputes between Registered Student Organizations, hears appeals from ASM committees and interprets the Constitution, bylaws and rules of ASM.

The Student Judiciary is composed of eight justices, all of whom are students at the undergraduate, graduate or professional level. Each justice, nominated after interview by the ASM Nominations Board and confirmed by the Student Council, serves a two-year term.

Among the eight justices, four officers are chosen by internal election: chief justice, vice chief justice, and Student Elections Commission (SEC) chair and vice chair. Although SEC officers are student judiciary members, the rest of the commission consists of students who are not connected with ASM in any other way.

Despite the presence of these officers, the Student Judiciary remains a committee of equals. Each member casts but one vote and has speaking rights the same as any other. Justices vote on every major decision that comes before them — from the three-justice panel that votes on actions regarding a case, to the full en banc court that votes on actions regarding appeals to the panel’s decision.

Any student here at UW has the right to appeal the discipline of a Registered Student Organization, file an election complaint and file a complaint against an organization that violates due process. Although all students have this right, very few choose to use it to its full potential. Students need to remember ASM only exists to serve the interests of the student body as a whole, but if only a few students make demands, ASM speaks only for the vocal.

All students should at least be aware of the recourse that they can take to make their voices heard through the Student Judiciary. Students can actively get involved by filing a complaint through the ASM website at asm.wisc.edu through the Student Judiciary section, or by placing a paper copy in the Chief Justice’s mailbox in the ASM offices.

After a complaint is filed with the Student Judiciary, a panel of three justices will be assigned, with either the chief justice or the vice chief justice presiding, to look into the complaint and determine if a hearing should ensue.

During the hearing both sides will be able to present their cases. Each side has 30 minutes to present its case, followed by unlimited time for the panel to ask questions. After the hearing has concluded, the panel will deliberate, make a decision and publish a binding order.

Although this is a succinct summary of Student Judiciary’s procedure, ASM Bylaws Section 5 explains in detail all of Student Judiciary’s procedures and rules under the Constitution. Although it can be a maze to navigate through the rules and bylaws, please do not hesitate to contact either the chief justice or the vice chief justice. We are here to serve all students at this university.

Sol Grosskopf

[email protected]

Shaun Hernandez

[email protected]