ASM Chair Al Zein Keeps Seat After Student Court Drops Second Appeal

The Associated Students of Madison (ASM) student judiciary dismissed the final legal challenge to the current chair's election on Sept. 29. The body rejected a second petitioner's brief filed by Rep. Michael Harry, ending a dispute that has spanned six months since the spring vote.

Harry, a candidate who lost the chair election on April 24, initially challenged the result on April 30. He argued that meeting rules were broken during the vote and that the Chief Justice did not preside as required. On Sept. 14, he amended that original filing to request that alleged violators be disqualified from future chair races.

The second brief, submitted on Sept. 22, focused on procedural errors in the judiciary's handling of the first case. Harry claimed the Chief Justice misapplied rules and that requiring a two-thirds majority to adopt a special order had no precedent. The judiciary issued an order on Sept. 8 allowing the first brief to be discussed at the Sept. 16 council meeting.

At that meeting, ASM representatives voted against adopting the special order. While a majority supported the motion, they did not reach the two-thirds threshold required for adoption. Had the motion passed, the council could have re-elected the 33rd session chair by a simple majority vote.

A majority of student justices recused themselves from the decision on the second brief. Chief Justice Chloe Sieman was among those who stepped back, a move Harry had previously requested. Because of these recusals, the judiciary did not assign a full panel to hear the case.

Chair Haia Al Zein stated that the decision provides hope for the remainder of the 33rd session. She expressed a desire for the council to work more collaboratively and move forward in greater unity. Harry, Sieman, and the student judiciary declined to offer further comment on the dismissal.

The dismissal confirms that the April 24 election results stand. Al Zein retains her position as chair of the 33rd session, and Harry's formal challenges to the process have been concluded.