Student court ends legal fight over Madison chair seat

The Associated Students of Madison (ASM) student judiciary has resolved the legal dispute surrounding the chair election for the 33rd session. On Sept. 29, the body dismissed a second petitioner's brief filed by Rep. Michael Harry.

Harry, who lost the chair race on April 24, submitted his initial challenge on April 30. He argued that the election results were invalid due to procedural errors. After amending his first brief on Sept. 14 to request that alleged violators be barred from future chair elections, he filed a second brief on Sept. 22.

The new filing alleged that the judiciary mishandled its earlier order and that Chief Justice Chloe Sieman misapplied rules during the proceedings. Harry specifically claimed that meeting rules were broken during the election and that the Chief Justice failed to preside.

A procedural hurdle preceded the final dismissal. On Sept. 8, the judiciary issued an order allowing Harry's first brief to be discussed as a special item at the Sept. 16 student council meeting. That motion required a two-thirds majority to pass. Representatives voted in favor, but the support fell short of the threshold. Had the motion succeeded, the council could have re-elected the chair by a simple majority.

Harry’s second brief contended that the two-thirds requirement lacked precedent. In the dismissal notice, a majority of student justices recused themselves from the decision. This group included Chief Justice Sieman, whose removal from the panel Harry had requested. Due to these recusals, the judiciary did not assign a full panel to hear the case.

ASM Chair Haia Al Zein responded to the ruling in a statement. She said the decision provides hope for the remainder of the session and offers a chance for the student body to work with greater unity. Sieman, Harry, and the student judiciary have not provided further comment on the brief.

The dismissal closes the legal avenue for Harry to overturn the April vote. The 33rd session chair will serve out the remainder of the term without a new election.