ASUO President Maddy Melton appointed three students to the ASUO Constitution Court on Tuesday. The appointments give the ASUO Student Senate a chance to fill the court’s three vacancies, one of which has existed since Melton took office on May 25.
The Senate, which confirms nominees, plans to consider the appointments at its 7 p.m. meeting tonight.
The vacancies had become a point of contention between Melton and the court, which ordered her to appear at a hearing on Feb. 16 to explain why the vacancies had not been filled.
Melton’s appointments met the court’s deadline to fill the longest-vacant position by Tuesday. The appointments should have been made within 30 days of the positions becoming vacant, according to the ASUO Constitution. Melton’s move belatedly fulfills her constitutionally mandated duty to fill the vacancies.
Melton appointed former ASUO legislative intern Randy Derrick, former ASUO Elections Coordinator Andrea Hall and former ASUO legislative associate Stefan Myers to the court. All three nominees, who were picked from a pool of six applicants, are undergraduates.
“We had a heavily qualified pool of applicants,” Melton said. “They’re all (ASUO) members that have been involved in various branches of student government.”
Melton said she examined the candidates’ leadership experience, knowledge of the ASUO Constitution and ability to interpret ASUO rules in a dispassionate, “viewpoint-neutral” manner.
“You have to assess whether or not members will be able to follow the rules and interpret the Constitution,” she said.
Melton said past experience in student government was a key factor in selecting the appointees.
“It’s valuable to have individuals who know the ASUO — and I mean that in the broadest sense — so that they can better interpret the rules,” Melton said.
ASUO Student Senate President Ben Strawn, who evaluated the applicants with Melton, said the appointees would make good court justices.
“I feel great about them,” he said. “They’re highly qualified individuals.”
Strawn said knowledge of student government was the most important factor for him in selecting the appointees.
“The thing you probably look for the most is an understanding of the rules of the (ASUO) Green Tape Notebook and ASUO Constitution,” Strawn said. “Beyond that, you look for someone with a sort of level-headed decision-making process.”
Derrick, co-chairman of the University’s College Democrats, said he was excited about his appointment to the court.
“It feels great,” he said. “I’m looking forward to my confirmation hearing (Wednesday) night, and if I’m appointed I’m looking forward to getting to work.”
Melton said she doesn’t anticipate any problems with the confirmation hearing. Strawn said he hasn’t heard of any opposition to the nominees, but he gave no guarantees of easy approvals.
“I really hate predicting stuff like that,” he said.