The Judicial Branch
The Central Student Judiciary is the judicial branch of the Central Student Government and the court of last resort within the University of Michigan’s system of student government.
The Court is composed of nine Justices, including the Chief Justice and Associate Chief Justice. The All-Campus Constitution empowers the Court to decide matters under the Constitution and Compiled Code, matters regarding CSG elections, matters originating from student organizations, and any other case regarding students the Central Student Judiciary deems appropriate. The Constitution also authorizes the Court to issue advisory opinions in response to questions referred to it by a CSG official or a candidate in a CSG election. Further, the Court is the default student governing board in the University’s SOAR Accountability Process for registered student organizations.
Joining the Court
The Court is composed of nine Justices, including a Chief Justice and Associate Chief Justice. Justices are nominated by the Judicial Appointment Commission (a body consisting of representatives from all three branches of CSG) and confirmed by the Assembly. No more than four Justices may be enrolled in any one degree-granting unit. A Justice’s tenure extends until they complete the degree program(s) they are enrolled in at the time of confirmation. A Justice should have excellent writing, research, and analytical abilities; a strong grasp of CSG’s governing documents; and a working knowledge of legal concepts.
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When there are vacancies, applications are typically considered in the early Fall and Winter semesters.
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Any questions about applications may be directed to the Chief Justice, who serves as chair of the Judicial Appointment Commission, at csg.chiefjustice@umich.edu.
History of the Court
The Central Student Judiciary was established on November 11, 1968, by an enactment of the Student Government Council, a predecessor to today’s Central Student Government. Although some aspects of the Court’s powers and duties have changed over the decades, the Court still bears a close resemblance to its original form and has served the student body for more than half a century.
