Judicial Branch

 

The Student Judiciary Committee is an ad judicatory body made up primarily of students, with at least one faculty representative, that acts to respond to concerns about student behaviors in the school.  The charge of this committee is to help students self regulate behavior in the school and serve as peer mediators to address conflicts or problems.  Student Judiciary can work on issues directed to them by the director or teachers or on issues students identify themselves.

 

1. Membership

a. There are 9 student judiciary members.  These are elected at large from the school.

b. Elections must be held before the close of October at a date determined by the judiciary committee.  The Judiciary Committee from the previous year remains in office until this election is held.

c. New members are voted into a minimum of three available seats.  Seats become available through students deciding to step down or through graduation from Compass School.  If three seats are not available, a democratic all-school election will be held to choose the six members that will remain.  Any school member can be nominated for one of the three available seats, including former judiciary members.   

d. Term length: One year.  At mid-year, in the last week of February, judiciary members who want to step down have that opportunity then and only then.  A new school wide election will be held for that position.

2. Impeachment:

a. Reasons for Impeachment: If a member of the Judiciary Committee fails to attend meetings regularly, or commits a major violation of school expectations, or is repeatedly rude, disrespectful, or disruptive in council, or is abusive of their position or uncommitted to the welfare of the school, that person may be impeached.

b. Impeachment process: A judiciary member can be impeached by a 75% vote of either the Judiciary Committee or the school community.  With a vote of 75%, the case is sent to judiciary for a final decision.

 

3. Judicial Process:

1. A person, or group of people, brings a case to the Judiciary Committee by filling out a Judiciary Referral Form
2. People who bring a case before judiciary must be available during the hearing. 
3. The Judiciary Committee decides whether the case is indeed a matter for judiciary (see case guidelines) or if it should be dealt with in another manner (i.e. with a staff member, in advisory, etc.)
4. If the case does concern the Judiciary Committee, then judicial members meet as a group to discuss the case and talk with all parties involved in, and affected by, the case. 
5. After hearing the input of those involved, the Judiciary Committee decides on a course of action to rectify the situation.  This action may result in the enactment of a new policy.
6. The parties must follow the process recommended by the Judiciary Committee. 
7. If one or more of the parties demonstrates willing participation in this process and is not satisfied with the process or the verdict, they can bring the case to Student Council, which can then abide by the judiciary decision or send it back to the Judiciary Committee to reassess.

 

Case guidelines:

 

1. Cases should relate to the school guidelines as outlined in the handbook.
2. Cases should be those that involve student vs. student, student vs. school property, or student vs. community.
3. If a case involves student vs. a teacher, teachers and staff members should explore procedures such as improvement forms and parental notification before referring to the judiciary committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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