Florida A&M University 2008-2009 student body president candidate Gallop Franklin, along with running mate Dominick Ardis, requested an appeal from the student Supreme Court to ask for a continuance in their trial against the Electoral Commission for failure of receiving public documents about spring elections.
The pre-trial was held Wednesday to open a trial that was initially approved to be held Thursday. Franklin, 20, and Ardis, 20, requested a continuance because they said they requested evidence but never received it from the Electoral Commissioner.
The student Supreme Court approved the continuance. The trial date is March 19.
“I think I have a great opportunity to debate and express our concerns with the election process that happened this spring,” said Franklin, a Tallahassee native.
Franklin and Ardis’ representatives said they requested documents for detailed ballot information from Electoral Commissioner Marva Butler, but she failed to respond.
At the pre-trial, Butler was absent but representatives of the Electoral Commission stood in her place.
Domonique Bercy, SGA attorney general, headed the defense for the Electoral Commission.
Bercy said the trial was unnecessary, but the student has the right to file an appeal.
“We move to dismiss the case on the grounds of improper trial procedure,” Bercy said.
But Franklin and Ardis said there is more to the voting process than meets the eye. They said they have reason to believe an unnamed individual not affiliated with the Electoral Commission messed with the ballot machines. They claimed to have witnesses from the FAMU College of Law.
The Franklin and Ardis party said it had witnesses from the law school but they only had written a statement from a law student named Kyle Walton.
Bercy said she disliked the thought of having statements sent from law school students and requested that they appear in person.
“We want to make sure we’re getting an accurate representation of the law school and not just someone who is a friend of someone and just wants to voice their opinion,” Bercy said. “If you’re someone’s friend and you just want to give an opinion on something, just write for the opinions section of The Famuan.”
But because the trial was scheduled so close to spring break, Franklin and Ardis are having a hard time getting their witnesses to come to the trial. This prompted them to ask for a continuance.
Franklin and Ardis said they are not looking for a re-vote but only hope to find justice and give fairness to the students.
“We are here today about disenfranchise,” said Amir Shabazz, counsel for Franklin and Ardis.
Although Franklin and Ardis disagreed with the request to have the law students come from Orlando to Tallahassee to appear in the trial, they are pleased to have the continuance.
“On Monday, March 17, we’re going to have a meeting to get those public records that people are trying to withhold from us,” Franklin said.
But because the trial was scheduled so close to spring break, Franklin and Ardis are having a hard time getting their witnesses to come to the trial. This prompted them to ask for a continuance.
Franklin and Ardis said they are not looking for a re-vote but only hope to find justice and give fairness to the students.
“We are here today about disenfranchise,” said Amir Shabazz, counsel for Franklin and Ardis.
Although Franklin and Ardis disagreed with the request to have the law students come from Orlando to Tallahassee to appear in the trial, they are pleased to have the continuance.
“On Monday, March 17, we’re going to have a meeting to get those public records that people are trying to withhold from us,” Franklin said.