Members of the University of Richmond Community,

We would like to thank you for taking the time to visit the University of Richmond Judicial Council Web Page! We are proud to be the Chairs of the URJC for 2006-2007 academic year.

So what exactly does the Judicial Council do? In its primary role, the Judicial Council serves as a forum where students may seek fair judgment from an educated and trained group of peers. If a student feels that she or he is not responsible for an alleged policy violation within the jurisdiction of the JC, she or he has the option of appealing her or his case to the Judicial Council. The most common cases in front of the JC are in the following areas: violence, illegal activity (drugs and alcohol), trespassing, property, disrupting, and inciting. So let’s say a student has opted to go in front of the JC for appeal in one of these areas. First, a Judicial Council liaison will be appointed. The Judicial Liaison ensures that all of the rights and responsibilities of the appellant are upheld and serves as an unbiased purveyor of information, guiding the appellant through the appeal process.

The case is presented before an appeal board consisting of six Judicial Council members (three WC students and three RC students, the secretary affiliated with the appellant’s residential college, and the presiding chair). As Chairs, we rotate presiding over the appeals, regardless of whether the appellant is an RC or WC student. The appeal board members listen to testimony and consider all evidence before making a decision as to whether the accused student is responsible for the alleged violation. After all information has been presented, the chair facilitates confidential deliberations, during which appeal board members discuss the evidence. At least four of the six appeal board members must find the appellant “not responsible” in order to overturn the Dean’s decision. If the appeal board finds the student responsible, appropriate sanctions must be discussed and voted on. A simple majority vote is required to determine the recommended sanctioning of the appeal board. After the appeal board renders its decision, the Dean issues final approval, and the accused student/appellant does not have the ability to make another appeal.

One of the best parts about being on the URJC is the trust and support we receive from the Deans’ Offices. That the Deans’ eagerly entrust a group of students to interpret and enforce university policy is unique to UR.

The Judicial Council not only hears appeals, but its members are role models, election monitors (for Richmond College), upholders of tradition, and information sources for students. One of our newest goals is to take a more active part in actually shaping university policy; the Council will gather feedback from the student body and issue formal policy recommendations to the Deans’ offices.

Again, we want to thank you for visiting our newly renovated website and encourage you to take a look around. Whether you want to understand your options as an accused student, help shape university policy, or are interested in applying to be a member of the Judicial Council, the information is here on our website! Thank you and have a great year!

                          
Heather Shields                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Mark Hickman
WC Judicial Council Chair                                          RC Judicial Council Chair