Thorpe nominates junior for SA Court

Junior Ryan Sullivan will be Student Association President Lamar Thorpe’s first nominee for the Student Court, the SA executive said at a special address Tuesday night in the organization’s office.

Chosen by Thorpe from a field of seven candidates, Sullivan served on last year’s Joint Elections Committee, the organization that oversees the SA elections.

In order to be seated on the court, Sullivan will have to receive a two-thirds majority vote from the Senate. On Wednesday night Sullivan passed through the Rules Committee with a 5-0 vote. Thorpe, a senior, said he foresees no problem with Sullivan’s confirmation process.

“Sullivan’s extensive work in politics and the SA makes him the ideal candidate,” Thorpe said during his address.

In addition to working on the JEC, Sullivan has also worked as a poll-watcher during SA elections and had a brief stint as the SA attorney general, a position that was later dissolved. Sullivan has also worked for lobbying firms, the Republican National Committee and a research institute, Thorpe said.

“I bring a very interesting mix to the court,” Sullivan said. “I will use all of my experience to bring new perspectives.”

In an effort to prevent what has been a tumultuous confirmation process in the past for students to sit on the court, Thorpe established a Student Court Committee, made up of members of the Senate and executive. The committee is chaired by Sen. Chris Rotella (CCAS-U) who is also chair of the Rules Committee, the first hurdle Sullivan must cross to be confirmed.

The court has only two members on the bench now and with the addition of Sullivan, the court will have enough members to be eligible to hear cases. The court deals with inter-SA disputes between the senate and executive and is also available to settle disputes between student organizations.

Thorpe still has work to do to fill the court. If Sullivan is confirmed, two of the five seats will remain vacant. Thorpe will not only have to fill those two empty seats but also fill a third seat that will be vacated by senior Oliver Tobias who will be graduating in December.

Per SA guidelines, one of the remaining seats must be occupied by a graduate student.

“Two unfilled court seats show that there is still work to be done, but I expect Chairman Rotella to continue his hard work,” Thorpe said. “We will collaborate to get this done.”