Speakers at Student Senate on Tuesday raised questions about the procedure by which justices are appointed to UF’s Supreme Court.
In addition to the Senate’s votes to pass a resolution, two funding bills and a Senator Accountability Act, it also unanimously appointed Brianne Lewis as its new Supreme Court justice.
Public debate opened when multiple senators yielded their speaking time to two UF law students, who received five minutes to discuss their opinions on the justice appointment process. The UF Supreme Court’s main function is to ensure the checks and balances are in place for executive and legislative branches, according to the Student Government website.
Alex Paez and Aubrey Burris, UF Levin College of Law students who said they were interested in being appointed for Supreme Court justice, addressed the Senate about their experiences with the appointment process.
Burris said that even though the judicial branch is comprised entirely of law students, she is certain most of them aren’t aware of the branch.
“I am confident in stating that the overwhelming majority of law students don’t even know that this exists, let alone its importance or how it functions,” she said.
Burris said in her speech that despite her efforts to learn about how the appointment process works, she did not receive any responses that were beneficial and was never informed of the process.
“The judicial branch remains an enigma of appointment with no set process of application and not even a hint as to when that process would occur for law students to be on the board,” she said. “Transparency in this process … would only serve to provide you with the most qualified and interested students.”
Minority leader Sen. Michael Christ said the two students were interested in applying for appointment, but their efforts to communicate with Student Body President Christina Bonarrigo, who handles those appointments, went unanswered.
“They wanted to come and speak and voice their concerns with how the process is conducted,” he said. “They felt, and I feel as well, that in order to get the best-qualified-possible applicants, it should be made well known to the entire law school.”
Reached later for comment, Bonarrigo said, “We appreciate the two students’ feedback and will look into our procedures.”
According to the SG website, each justice is appointed by the president and then confirmed by the Senate. These justices remain in office until they graduate.
Lewis, who was appointed a Supreme Court justice, has served as vice president of membership for Florida Blue Key and director of creative for Gator Growl. She is due to graduate in May.
[A version of this story ran on page 3 on 1/29/2014 under the headline "Senate speakers talk Supreme Court justice appointments"]
Alex Paez and Aubrey Burris speak about transparency issues when applying to be appointed as a UF Supreme Court justice at the Student Senate meeting Tuesday night.
