Chief Justice Christopher Weaver resigned from the judicial branch of the Student Government Association Monday night.
This marks the second justice to resign in the last two weeks both only weeks before elections, a time when the judicial branch is very busy.
As chief justice of the Supreme Court, Weaver was the lead administrative officer for the student court. He handled the budget of the court, made sure court proceedings were in accordance with rules and regulations and sat on several committees.
Weaver feels that the court is ineffective. He said Dean of Students Henry Kirby, who oversees all matters concerning SGA, has undermined the authority of the court.
Weaver said that Kirby abuses his power and overturns a majority of the court’s decisions. “I don’t want to waste my time having proceedings and the court being in here till 2 and 3 in the morning for Dean Kirby to overturn the decision,” said Weaver. “Dean Kirby has the right to overturn our decisions but I feel that he abuses that right.”
Weaver pointed out instances where the judicial branch was overlooked by Kirby, including the suspension of Senator Natalie Amore.
Amore was accused of stealing from Senator Marquise McMiller. The judicial branch was not informed of her hearing. The two student seats at her hearing should have gone to justices in the judicial branch.
Amore was also accused of allegations she was not aware of previous to her hearing. Those allegations violated Amore’s rights as a student but were allowed to stand. She is currently on probation.
Kirby said that he regretted that Weaver was resigning under incorrect perceptions of university rules and regulations. He feels that student body president Breyon Love will appoint a candidate capable of filling the position.
He also declined to speak on the Natalie Amore case.
“I can’t discuss the cases of any students involved in the university disciplinary process,” said Kirby.
Louis Jean Baptiste, associate chief justice for the judicial branch, will fill in temporarily. Baptiste, a third-year political science/pre-law student from Palm Beach, Fla., said the branch would suffer in losing Weaver.
“Whenever you lose a branch head you are going to take a hit,” said Baptiste. “The branch is like a company and we lost our CEO but that doesn’t mean the company goes out of business.”
Tavares Williams, a fourth-year political science student from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., another associate chief justice, agrees that the branch will be different without Weaver. Williams says Weaver helped turn the judicial branch around. “He helped bring credibility back to the branch.”
Student Body President Breyon Love will appoint the next chief justice.
Love declined to comment.