Board justices charged with violating rules
Judicial board member resigns, council considers sanctions
against another
By Brooke Olson
Daily Bruin Contributor
A member of the Judicial Board resigned yesterday after being
formally charged by the undergraduate council with violating
student government guidelines during last spring’s controversial
elections.
Furthermore, another Judicial Board justice was charged by the
council with discussing an election case outside of an official
meeting. Next Tuesday, the council could vote to remove that
justice from the board.
During last year’s elections, the Judicial Board overturned
several results. A few days later, the board’s decision was
overturned by another undergraduate committee and the original
election results were reinstated.
"Due to personal time commitments, I am no longer able to
fulfill my duties on the Judicial Board," Justice Jacob Rothman
wrote in a letter to the undergraduate council.
As a result of his resignation, Academic Affairs Commissioner
Cynthia Duarte, the sole member of the investigating committee,
terminated the investigation, which accused Rothman of presiding
over a case despite a conflict of interest.
"At this time I feel the issues concerning the conduct of
Rothman are moot considering his future involvement with the
Judicial Board is no longer of any consequence," Duarte said.
The committee, however, will uphold their charge against Noah
Hochman for possibly violating student government guidelines.
Duarte’s reasons for continuing the investigation result from
testimony compiled from both former Election Board member Nikki
Vivion and Justice Noah Hochman.
Testifying before the investigation committee, Vivion said that
she witnessed Hochman discussing the election case with last year’s
undergraduate president Rob Greenhalgh, even though the case was
still open
"Any mention of the case (while it is ongoing) is in violation
of student government guidelines," Duarte said. "I am recommending
that the council consider sanctions up to and including the removal
of Noah Hochman from the Judicial Board."
Hochman vehemently denied the charge. He added that the
investigation committee neglected to tell him the specifics of the
charge until after he had been questioned about the alleged
violation at a public hearing.
"I stated all of my objections (at the hearing)," Hochman said.
"According to the rules, I have the right to know what I’ve
specifically done and (Duarte) didn’t even tell me that until the
end of my hearing."
Duarte said she repeatedly attempted to get in contact with
Hochman and inform him of the charge before the hearing was
held.
The council will rule on the charge at next Tuesday’s meeting.
Council members seem likely to follow Duarte’s recommendation to
remove Hochman from the board.
The dispute over the Judicial Board justices and their actions
stem from last spring’s controversy.
During the undergraduate elections, the Bruin Democrats placed a
full-page ad in the Daily Bruin announcing the group’s endorsement
of several candidates.
Marwa Kilani, a council general representative, filed a
complaint with the Elections Board, alleging that the ad was an
illegal endorsement.
The Elections Board, however, determined there was no
violation.
Then Matt Weathers, a former council member, filed a petition
with the Judicial Board requesting a review of the Elections
Board’s ruling. The Judicial Board ruled the ad was an illegal
endorsement and quickly overturned several election results.
However, several days later the Judicial Board reopened the
case, overturned its original decision, and gave the Elections
Board the power to resolve the situation.
The Elections Board unanimously voted to keep the original
election results.Comments to webmaster@db.asucla.ucla.edu