Al Zein retains ASM chair after student court rejects Harry's final appeal

Rep. Michael Harry's effort to overturn the Associated Students of Madison (ASM) chair election has ended. The student judiciary dismissed his second petitioner's brief on Sept. 29, leaving Haia Al Zein in the role for the remainder of the 33rd session. Harry lost the chair election on April 24.

Harry filed the second brief on Sept. 22. In it, he alleged that the judiciary mishandled its order regarding his first brief and that Chief Justice Chloe Sieman misapplied rules during proceedings. He argued that the requirement for a two-thirds majority to take up his first brief as a special order lacked precedent.

The dispute began when Harry filed his initial brief on April 30, claiming the election results were invalid due to broken meeting rules and the absence of a presiding chief justice. He amended that filing on Sept. 14 to request that alleged violators be disqualified from future chair elections. The student judiciary issued an order on Sept. 8 to allow his first brief to be discussed at the Sept. 16 meeting.

ASM representatives voted on that special order at the Sept. 16 student council meeting. While a majority voted in favor, the measure failed to meet the required two-thirds threshold. Had it passed, the council could have re-elected the 33rd session chair by a simple majority vote.

A majority of student justices recused themselves from deciding Harry's second brief, including Chief Justice Sieman. Harry had specifically requested her recusal. Because of these recusals, the student judiciary did not assign a full panel to hear the case.

Al Zein responded to the dismissal in a statement to The Daily Cardinal. She said the decision gives her hope for the remainder of the 33rd session and serves as an opportunity for the body to work more collaboratively and move forward in greater unity.

Sieman, Harry, and the student judiciary declined to comment further on the brief.