Filing & Cases
Adjudicatory Bodies
The Judicial Council adjudicates a variety of cases, allegations, and disputes arising within the Student Union. These cases are heard by one of the following adjudicatory bodies:
Judicial Council
The Judicial Council Officers may issue binding opinions of constitutional interpretation pursuant to Article XII, Section 3(a) of the Constitution, which states, "The Judicial Council shall have the sole power to hear petitions to decide interpretive questions of all Student Union enactments, including their constitutionality; enjoin the enforcement of enactments found unconstitutional; and issue binding opinions regarding questions of interpretation."
Voting membership includes the six Judicial Council Officers: the Judicial Council President, Student Union Parliamentarian, Vice President of Elections, Student Union Historian, Vice President of Peer Advocacy, and Vice President of Operations. The Officers are chaired by the Judicial Council President.
Before hearing an interpretive question, the Judicial Council must grant a petition for review. The process by which the Judicial Council may grant these petitions is outlined in Section I(3) the Judicial Council Bylaws, which state, "After the petition is filed, the Judicial Council President or two consenting officers of the Judicial Council may grant review. If the Judicial Council does not grant review, the previous decision, if any, shall stand."
The Judicial Council has original jurisdiction over interpretive questions, and appellate jurisdiction over decisions rendered by the Ethics Commission and Election Committee.
Election Committee
The Election Committee hears cases of electoral misconduct, and may impose electoral sanctions up to, and including, forfeiture of candidacy. Unless indicated otherwise, all Election Committee proceedings are considered strictly confidential to protect the privacy of the involved parties.
Voting membership includes several members of the Notre Dame student body, otherwise uninvolved in the affairs of the Student Union. These members are selected by the Judicial Council President and Vice President of Elections and confirmed by the Student Senate. The Election Committee is chaired by the Vice President of Elections, and impartially advised by the Judicial Council President and Student Union Parliamentarian in a non-voting capacity.
Before hearing an allegation of electoral misconduct, the Judicial Council President, Vice President of Elections, and Judicial Council Student Activities Advisor must find merit to proceed to a hearing.
The Election Committee has original jurisdiction over all disciplinary cases and controversies arising as a result of elections.
File an allegation of Electoral Misconduct
Ethics Commission
The Ethics Commission hears cases of unethical or unconstitutional conduct within the Student Union, and may impose sanctions up to, and including, the issuance of a bill of impeachment or removal from office. Unless indicated otherwise, all Election Committee proceedings are considered strictly confidential to protect the privacy of the involved parties.
Voting membership includes randomly selected members from organizations across the Student Union. The Ethics Commission is chaired by the Judicial Council President, and impartially advised by the Student Union Parliamentarian in a non-voting capacity.
The Ethics Commission has original jurisdiction over all disciplinary cases and controversies arising from within the Student Union.
File an Allegation of Ethical Misconduct
Past Ethics Commission Cases
Request an Advocate
If you plan to file an allegation or case, we recommend requesting an Advocate. Advocates have been thoroughly trained, possess advocacy certification as selectively administered by Officers of the Judicial Council, have experience appearing and arguing before judicial bodies, and will be able to assist in crafting strong constitutional and statutory arguments.
If you have been made party to a case or allegation, you will be automatically provided with an assigned Advocate to represent your defense. You may wave your right to an Advocate.
If your case or allegation is particularly complex, weighty, or time-sensitive, the Judicial Council may assign more than one Advocate.
Please note that petitions filed with the Officers of the Judicial Council must be filed with an advocate. Only certified Advocates may argue before the Officers of the Judicial Council.
Case Archive
The Judicial Council Case Archive includes past cases heard by any of these three bodies. Case Archives have been prepared to increase transparency and make our proceedings accessible to everyone. Published information is comprehensive and authoritative, and includes relevant facts, questions, and holding, as well as full-text opinions and audio (when available).