How to File a Complaint
Before submitting an official complaint to the Student Judicial Court (SJC), it's important to ask yourself a few simple questions to assess whether SJC will be able to assist you with your issue. Along with the questions listed below, consider the timeline as well. For non-election-related complaints, groups have 30 calendar days from the incident to file a Notice of Intent and an additional 3 days after that to submit their Petitioners’ Brief. If you have any questions or concerns about the process, please reach out to the Chief Justice at USG-ChiefJustice@uiowa.edu.
How to File a Complaint
If you answer "no" to any of these questions, your complaint might be at risk of being dismissed by the justices.
Do you have standing? You must be an undergraduate student of the University of Iowa in order to file a complaint with SJC.
Does SJC have jurisdiction over the respondent? If the person/group that your complaint is about is not a Registered Student Organization, a body/part of USG, a member of USG, etc., SJC does not have jurisdiction over them and may not be able to do anything about your complaint.
Does your complaint concern a violation of the USG or RSO's Constitution, Bylaws, rules or other laws? SJC serves to enforce these laws. If your complaint does not have to do with a violation of any of these, SJC may not be able to do anything about your complaint.
Is there an available remedy? As part of the case brief, petitioners must suggest a remedy for their own complaint. The justices do not have to accept this remedy and may come up with their own, but the petitioners must have one available. In cases where there is no available remedy, SJC may not be able to do anything about your complaint.
There are various reasons why the justices might be unable to hear your case, but by reflecting on these straightforward questions beforehand, you can gain a clearer sense of what the justices expect and the types of cases the SJC is able to consider.
When you submit a Notice of Intent to the Chief Justice, you inform the SJC of your intention to present a case. This form does not serve as a full summary of your case or complaint. Instead, it will clearly identify you or your organization as the petitioner and specify the respondent—the individual or organization involved in your case. Additionally, you classify your complaint as either a general complaint or a procedural complaint through this form.
A general complaint pertains to claims related to violations of policies or codes of conduct that affect the rights or responsibilities of students or organizations. For example, this could include allegations of harassment or discrimination. On the other hand, a procedural complaint pertains to claims regarding the fairness or correctness of a process followed during disciplinary actions or other official procedures, such as improper notification or lack of due process.
Notice of Intent forms are available on the USG website under the Judicial Branch section and must be submitted by e-mail to the Chief Justice (USG-Chief Justice@uiowa.edu). The Notice of Intent must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the adverse decision. The Student Judicial Court will only accept complaints after this date in cases with extenuating circumstances.
The petitioner must submit a Case Brief within three academic days of filing the Notice of Intent. A template for the Case Brief can be found on the USG website in the Judicial Branch section. If you have not completed a Case Brief by this time, they will contact you to offer assistance with writing your brief. SJC can help you craft a case brief that accurately represents your complaint and your intended oral arguments. You'll need to outline the key issues in your complaint, identify relevant bylaws, present your arguments, and suggest a remedy for the Court. After you email your case brief to the Chief Justice, your complaint will be considered officially filed, and you can expect a prompt response regarding whether and when your complaint will be addressed by the SJC. To prepare for your hearing, if approved, refer to the SJC Manual of Procedure, available on the Judicial Branch section of the USG Website.
Manual of Procedure
The Student Judicial Court (SJC) ensures fair and impartial proceedings by adhering to a detailed Manual of Procedure. The manual emphasizes transparency and accessibility, with records of cases, complaints, and voting records publicly available on the SJC website. To protect privacy, personal information is redacted from these records, and involved parties have the opportunity to review the information before publication. The manual outlines the process for initiating cases, including filing complaints and appeals, attending pre-trial conferences, and participating in trials. It also clarifies the SJC's jurisdiction, the assignment and recusal of justices, and the process for appeals. The manual strives to make the judicial process easy to understand for all students involved.
Student Judicial Court Case Timeline
Incident causing complaint to arise occurs.
Notice of Intent must be submitted to the Chief Justice (USG-ChiefJustice@uiowa.edu) within 30 calendar days of the incident.
Notice of Intent Filed
Petitioner's Brief must be submitted within 3 academic days of filing Notice of Intent.
Chief Justice assigns a panel at the next regular business meeting.
Petitioner’s Brief Filed
Panel will deliberate on accepting Case Brief.
Petitioner’s Brief Accepted
A hearing will be scheduled within 10 academic days of the filing of the Petitioner’s brief.
Petitioner’s Brief Denied
Within 10 academic days, the Court must publish an order of summary dismissal.
Respondent's Brief Not Filed
Within 10 academic days, the Court must publish an order of summary dismissal.
Hearing Held
Within 10 academic days, the panel must publish an opinion or order.
Opinion/Order Published
If you wish to appeal, appeals must be submitted to the rest of the Court within 5 academic days. Email a completed copy of the Notice of Intent to File an Appeal to USG-ChiefJustice@uiowa.edu
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The pre-trial conference, led by the Chief Justice, is an opportunity to establish the facts of the case and address any relevant questions. During this conference, evidence is gathered, which can include witness testimonies, physical evidence, and virtual evidence. You and the other party will also have the chance to make oral depositions, respond to interrogatories, and submit any motions.
If you need to reschedule a trial, you must inform the Chief Justice at least 24 hours in advance. Failure to provide adequate notice or to appear at the trial could result in a judgment against you or dismissal of the complaint.
If you believe there were procedural errors or flaws in the SJC's reasoning, you have the option to file an appeal. The appeal process, like the initial complaint process, begins on the SJC page of the USG website. A group of non-recused justices will review your appeal. If they determine that the initial judgment requires review, your case will either be sent back to the original panel or reviewed by the appellate court, composed of all non-recused justices.
To maintain transparency, the SJC makes records of all cases and complaints publicly available on the Case Files page of the USG website. To protect the privacy of those involved in the cases, names and personal information are excluded from the public records.
A "motion" is a formal request made by a party involved in a case. Motions can be filed for a variety of reasons. For example, a party might file a motion to dismiss the case, a motion for summary judgment (a judgment without a full trial), or a motion to request the recusal of a specific justice due to a potential conflict of interest. Motions to dismiss or for summary judgment require a unanimous vote from the panel of justices. Most motions must be submitted 24 hours prior to the scheduled trial, although requests for extensions can be granted by a two-thirds vote of the panel.
SJC's decisions can take the form of either "orders" or "opinions." An "order" is a binding decision that requires a specific action from the involved parties. For example, an order might require a student group to amend their bylaws or a student to complete community service. An "opinion," on the other hand, offers advice or guidance without mandating a specific action. Both orders and opinions are published on the SJC website, ensuring transparency and providing a record of past decisions
While the involved parties must initially agree to abide by the SJC's decision, the decision is not necessarily final. The losing party has the right to appeal the decision if they believe procedural errors were made, new evidence has come to light, or other grounds for review exist. The appellate court, consisting of non-recused justices, has the authority to uphold the original decision, modify the remedy, or reverse the decision entirely.