SGA wrangles over new chief justice pick

After two special session senate meetings, LaCourtney Brooks, a senior accounting major from Monroe, has been appointed chief justice of the Student Government Association after Robert Bennett, dean of student life, sent a letter to the SGA informing them the since the interpretation of the Constitution as it applies to the senate voting was vague, Brooks would indeed be the new chief justice.
During their first special session meeting concerning Brooks on Oct. 7, SGA President Jamal Taylor said he had chosen Brooks because his integrity. “Mr. Brooks was the president of the Men’s Federation [2007-08] and has shone leadership skills. He held timely meetings and his character has never been questioned.”
Taylor also added that the current justice branch, which was formerly led by Christopher Richardson, had not had a meeting this semester.
During the confirmation hearing, when the senate asked Brooks if had taken and passed the Constitution exam, both Brooks and Taylor agreed that he had. However, when in executive session, the senate confirmed that Brooks had not taken the exam and the meeting was adjourned.
Brooks, while waiting to hear the first verdict of the executive session, said that he was more than ready to face the student senate, and take on the position of the third branch of student government.
“Sure,” he said of his preparation. “I’m use to overcoming adversity. I won’t let adversity stop what needs to be done for Southern University students.”
Brooks said that he misinterpreted the question of Constitution, but wasn’t concerned about the matter of passing.
“It’s no big deal,” he claimed. “I can pass anytime.”
While speaking to the personal relationship questions brought up during his initial confirmation hearing, Brooks was very open of his and SGA President Taylor’s prior relationship.
“There is a friendship. If he didn’t know my credentials, which speak for themselves, he wouldn’t have recommended me. Every student should have a personal relationship with their president,” said Brooks.
“The president and Brooks violated the code of ethics,” said Senator Phillip Wallace, a junior political science major from Baton Rouge. “Brooks lied and President Taylor misrepresented the truth.” Wallace cites Article 1 Section 2a of the constitution that says, “No member shall knowingly misrepresent the truth while acting in his capacity as a Student Government elected or appointed official.”
On Oct 15, the Senate held a second confirmation hearing for Brooks in which 15 members of the senate were present. According to Vice President Stasha Rhodes’ interpretation of the Constitution, of the 21-member Senate, 15 needed to vote in favor of installing Brooks. Taylor, however, said the Constitution stipulates that only those Senate members in attendance should be counted, which would mean Brooks would only need nine votes. The Senate voted 13-2.
With no definite decision made from Wednesday’s meeting, Bennett wrote in his letter, since Article 7 Section 8 of the Constitution was so vague that, “Chief Justice did have the votes he needed to be confirmed, and he is the newly appointed Chief Justice of our Student Government Association.”
Wallace, one of the two ‘nay’ voters said he felt uncomfortable voting for someone with such little knowledge of the Constitution.
“I don’t think he’s qualified to lead an entire branch. He failed to answer simple questions about the Constitution or what his duties entail.”
Taylor noted that many of the Senators presented where appointed by their class presidents.
Senator Davitria Stubbs, a business management senior from Jeanerette agreed with Taylor.
“I feel that not everyone can say they completely know the Constitution, I trust Brook’s character and President’s Taylor’s judgment.”
Rhodes also addressed the judiciary confusion in a letter, stating that both herself and the senate was in compliance with the constitution, but, “find it asinine that he (Dean of Student Life) would completely turn a blind eye to Article VI, eight that directly speaks to a vacancy in the office of Chief Justice.”
In a rebuttal letter to Bennett, Wallace said he feels as though the Executive branch is trying to strong arm the Student Senate. “The Senate recognized…that the Constitution has several flaws and errors. We attempted to initiate the process to correct those flaws, but we consistently met grave resistance from the Executive Branch. I never thought that as Senator I would have to fight the Executive Branch and now the hypothetically impartial administration.”