Student Court: Final Appeal in Chair Election Dispute Dismissed

The Associated Students of Madison student judiciary dismissed Rep. Michael Harry's second legal challenge on Sept. 29.

Harry, a candidate in the spring chair election, had asked the court to review procedural errors in the April 24 vote for the 33rd session chair. He filed the initial brief on April 30, arguing the results were invalid. On Sept. 14, he amended that filing to request that alleged violators be barred from running for chair in future cycles.

His second brief, submitted on Sept. 22, focused on how the court handled his first submission. Harry claimed the body mishandled its order and that Chief Justice Chloe Sieman misapplied rules during proceedings. The student judiciary had issued an order on Sept. 8 to discuss the first brief as a special item at the Sept. 16 council meeting. That meeting adopted a modified version of an order from April 30.

At the Sept. 16 session, representatives voted narrowly against adopting the special order. A two-thirds majority was required for adoption. While a simple majority voted in favor, the count did not reach the higher threshold. Had the motion passed, the council could have re-elected the 33rd session chair with a simple majority.

Harry's latest filing argued that the two-thirds requirement for taking up the brief as a special order lacked precedent. The dismissal notice stated that a majority of student justices recused themselves from the decision. Chief Justice Sieman was among those who stepped back, a move Harry had requested. Because of the recusals, the court did not assign a full panel to hear the case.

ASM Chair Haia Al Zein welcomed the dismissal in a statement. She said the decision gives her hope for the rest of the 33rd session and hopes it allows the body to work more collaboratively. Sieman, Harry, and the student judiciary declined to provide further comment.

The dismissal ends Harry's current legal bid to overturn the April 24 election result.