The Judicial Branch
Student Chief Justice: Taylor Lansing. E-Mail: student-chief-justice@ncsu.edu
In the Spring Semester of each year the Office of Student Conduct and the Judicial Branch of Student Government conduct the selection process for new Board Members. Some years an abbreviated selection process will take place during the Fall semester, as required by member turn over. This process is may be advertised in the Technician as well as through other mediums. Information is also available in the Student Government Office, 355 Harrelson Hall, at 515-2797.
What is the Judicial Board?
The NC State Judicial Board is the body which conducts academic and non-academic hearings in which students have been charged with violating the NC State Code of Student Conduct and they face possible suspension or expulsion from the university. Approximately 20 university faculty and staff and 25 students comprise the pool of possible Board members who sit on each hearing, with a different composition depending on the nature of the case:
- Academic cases: two students and two faculty are present
- Non-academic cases: three students and one faculty are present
What roles are there on the Judicial Board?
The Student Chief Justice facilitates each of these hearings, which take place twice a week. In these hearings, the Chief Justice and the Judicial Board Members question the complaint (person or group responsible for filing the charge) and the respondent (student being charged). The respondent and complaint each have an assistant (student member of Judicial Board who has been appointed) who helps them prepare for the hearing.
How are hearings run?
Hearings are closed to the public to protect the rights of the involved parties. Two separate stages occur in each hearing, unless the respondent is found to be not guilty:
- Fact Finding: each person is allowed to present their case and then the Board questions them; witnesses may be called by the Board if appropriate.
- Sanctioning: each person is questioned regarding any aggravating or mitigating circumstances related to the respondent and/or the violation itself.
After each stage, everyone leaves the room for the Board to make a decision. At the end of the hearing, the Board’s decision is read, and following the hearing, the Chief Justice writes a letter to the respondent giving the decision and detailing the Board’s rationale.
