The judicial branch of the Student Government Association is the Student Supreme Court. The Student Supreme Court is comprised of eight associate justices and one chief justice appointed by the Student Body President with the approval of two-thirds of the Senate.

Justices serve one year terms expiring at the beginning of the Fall semester though it is not uncommon for justices to be reappointed because of their experience on the court.

The court serves as the final authority in conflict resolution among students and student organizations if said organizations see fit to yield to the arbitration by the court. It also serves as the appellate body for traffic tickets.

The court decisions have a lifespan of one year, lasting only until the following Fall semester and replacement of justices. However, precedent set by previous courts is always a consideration when making new decisions.

Court Jurisdiction

Organizational Disputes
The Supreme Court can, at the request of two student organizations, serve as an unbiased forum for deciding disputes. Both organizations must agree to this mediation and if three or more justices agree to hear the case then the Supreme Court is obliged to convene. Understandably, this occurrence is uncommon as seldom do organizational disputes reach a level of severity as to require court intervention.

Constitutional Irregularities
The Supreme Court serves as the third branch of Student Government Association. As such, it is empowered with certain checks on the other two branches of the organization. Like the federal Supreme Court, the body serves as an official interpreter of the SGA governing documents ruling on disputes when questions over legality or interpretation are necessary. The decisions of the court are final, however, the court itself has no legislative authority, and thus any correction of the documents must originate in the Senate through the process of amendment. Additionally, the court opinion must be sought by complaining parties. The court will hear cases if three or more justices decide to accept the case.

SGA Election Appeal
The court also serves as the final appellate body for all SGA election disputes. Election disputes are first dealt with by the Senate appointed Election Commission; however, the decision of the Election Commission may be overturned by the Supreme Court via a majority vote. Unlike other jurisdictions, the court must hear any cases relating to SGA elections.

Traffic Court

University policy dictates that the Supreme Court is empowered to hear all traffic ticket appeals. This authority grants the Supreme Court to overturn any parking or ticketing violation without any additional administrative appeal. The Supreme Court meets bi-monthly year-round with a representative of the University Police Department to hear ticket appeals in person or in writing. For more information about ticket appeals please contact University Police or SGA.

A community service option is also available for qualifying students to avoid paying ticket fines. A student may choose to participate in three hours of community service for a single parking ticket. This community service option is only available for $24 parking violations and may only be implemented once a semester for the student. $40 fines do not have this option and once a student has completed three hours of community service to dismiss a single ticket, this option can no longer be used during the semester.

Appointment of Justices

Justices are appointed at the beginning of the Fall semester by the Student Body President and serve until the conclusion of Summer II. The SGA Constitution requires that the court be comprised of one freshman, one sophomore, one junior, one senior, and one off-campus student with the remaining seats open at-large. Nominees are approved by a minimum two-thirds vote of the Senate before assuming office.

The Student Body President also selects one justice to serve as Chief Justice. This position is traditionally accompanied by a scholarship as the duties of the Chief Justice are markedly more burdensome. The Chief Justice must have served at least one semester on the court and is responsible for overseeing all proceedings as well as drafting all decisions reached by the court.