| The Judiciary Branch is one of three branches of the Student Government Association. It consists of seven Justices, including the Chief Justice and Associate Chief Justice. These are elected by a majority vote of the Justices at the start of each term. The Judiciary Branch has the power to review actions by officers of the SGA and issue either a mandamus, to order any agent of the SGA to perform a task, or an injunction, to order any agent of the SGA to cease a practice that is found to be in violation of the SGA Constitution and By-Laws.
The roles of Student Justices within the SGA are very similar to the roles of Supreme Court Justices within the Federal Government. Therefore, having an understanding of the legal system is preferable, but not mandatory, for students interested in the Judiciary Branch. Student Justices in the Judiciary Branch participate in a unique process of Judicial Review of Student Leader actions. It is a helpful experience for students interested in Law, because they actively read and interpret the SGA’s governing document, preside over Hearings, and write opinions summarizing their findings.
If you are interested in being a Student Justice in the Judiciary Branch, please e-mail the Student Attorney General, Shahna-Lee James, at sga.ag@stuaf.umass.edu. If positions are available, you will need to submit a formal letter of interest in the position and a resume. Please include any legal, or otherwise relevant experience, including majors and minors, classes taken, and year of graduation.
According to the SGA Constitution the Judiciary has broad powers including:
"The Student Judiciary may hold, by declaratory judgment, any act by any agent of the Executive or Legislative Branches of the SGA, or of any agency directly associated with the SGA, or of any candidate for SGA office, to be unconstitutional, or in violation of any By-law or Act of the SGA, and therefore, invalid, provided said action is not a governance item approved by the Board of Trustees." [A7, S4]
Any student can file a petition with the Judiciary through the Associate Chief Justice, currently Chris Marquis. The Judiciary is required to hear all petitions in the following manner:
"Any person(s), with the exception of members of the Student Judiciary, may file with the Student Judiciary a Petition for a Ruling on the constitutionality and/or validity of any act by any agent of the Executive or Legislative Branches of the SGA, or of any agency directly associated with the SGA, or of any candidate for SGA office, within ninety (90) days of said action, and the Student Judiciary shall issue a ruling on same, provided said action is not a governance item approved by the Board of Trustees." [A7, S5]
The Judiciary then has the ability to issue the following statements:
"1. Mandamus - Here defined as the power to order any agent of the Executive or Legislative Branches of the SGA, or of any agency directly associated with the SGA, or of any candidate for SGA office, to perform a task which, in the Student Judiciary's judgment, is mandated by the Constitution of the SGA, the By-laws of the SGA or Acts of the SGA.
2. Injunction - Here defined as the power to order any agent of the Executive or Legislative Branches of the SGA, or of any agency directly associated with the SGA, or of any candidate for SGA office, to cease a practice which, in the Student Judiciary's judgment, is in violation of the Constitution of the SGA, the By-laws of the SGA or Acts of the SGA." [T4, C2, S1]
Failure to abide by the decision of the Judiciary can result in being in contempt. This can result in Disciplinary charges:
"'Contempt" shall be defined here as the failure of any agent of the Executive or Legislative Branches of the SGA, or of any agency directly associated with the SGA, or of any candidate for SGA office, to comply with the orders of the Student Judiciary. The Student Judiciary is further empowered to order the Attorney General to file formal charges against said agent with the Dean of Students." [T4, C2, S1]
Judiciary Members:
Chief Justice Robert Weed
rweed@student.umass.edu
Associate Chief Justice Chris Marquis
cmarquis@student.umass.edu
Jessica Theophile
jtheophi@student.umass.edu
Ben Bull
bbull@student.umass.edu
Zack Lavesque
Steve Coppelletti
James Moore
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