The UF Supreme Court did not come to a conclusion Sunday night regarding the constitutionality of UF’s Student Government executive branch’s power to remove directors.
Billy Vranish, the former director of external affairs, appealed to the court after Student Body President Tj Villamil fired him Jan. 28.
The court deadlocked over two issues: the constitutionality of the Governmental Boards, Commissions, and Subsidiary Organizations codes and how they may contradict the UF Constitution; and the basis of why Vranish was terminated.
The codes state the Student Body president and the SG Executive Committee can fire directors because of an action contrary to law, a bad job or not doing his or her job. The Constitution reads that officers of executive departments can be removed by the Student Body president.
Solicitor General Ryan Gilbert, who represented Villamil in the hearing, argued that Villamil terminated Vranish because he was not doing his job.
Vranish alleged that Villamil fired him because of different political beliefs. Vranish, who was appointed by former Student Body President Ben Meyers in May 2011, said he was thinking of being Meyers’ campaign manager if Meyers decided to run in the 2013 SG elections, which he didn’t.
Acting Chief Justice Tim Mason said Vranish’s argument might not stand without concrete evidence that Villamil discriminated for political reasons.
“We’re not equipped to figure out what he did or did not say,” he said.
Mason invited Chief Justice Matt Michel to join the court at the next hearing to debate the constitutionality of the case. Michel recused himself from the hearing because of his personal connection with Vranish.
The court will reconvene at a later date to further discuss the case.
Contact Colleen Wright at cwright@alligator.org.
