While the other three hearings during Friday’s ASUO Constitution Court marathon lasted for at least an hour, the case against Executive candidates Nilda Brooklyn and Joy Nair was over before it even began.
Chief Justice Rob Raschio dismissed the case not even five minutes into the hearing because the key witness involved wasn’t present. Freshman business major Jarrett White had filed a grievance accusing the candidates of using ASUO phones to make campaign calls. Although White hadn’t personally witnessed the incidents, ASUO Constitution Court Clerk Scott Austin had signed an affidavit that said the two were introducing themselves on the phone as candidates and then reminding students to vote.
Austin had left before the trial began, and Raschio said that legally, Austin needed to be present for the hearing to proceed.
“Everyone has the right to address accusers and cross-examine them,” he said after dismissing the case. “We need to get on with this election.”
After several seconds of stunned silence from the audience, Brooklyn and Nair supporters broke into loud applause.

Although the candidates said they hadn’t spoken to Austin regarding his accusations, both again firmly denied his claims, and said they had done nothing wrong.
“The allegations against us were completely untrue,” Brooklyn said.
Following the hearing, Austin said he didn’t know the case would be dismissed without his presence, and said he had no comment about why he left or his reaction to the hearing’s outcome.
But White, who didn’t get the chance to present the case he’d prepared, said he wished the hearing could have proceeded, so the court could hear both sides and make a fair decision.
“I’m sorry we could not go through with the proceeding and find the real truth,” he said.
White added that although he blamed himself for not knowing the rule, he was also disappointed with Austin for leaving.
“Scott Austin has let the student body down by not attending,” he said. “Democracy has been let down today.”