ASUO Sen. Lindy Mabuya@@checked@@ called for the removal of Cedar Cosner from his Constitution Court position at the ASUO Senate meeting May 30. Cosner, who was the former ASUO Elections Coordinator, was picked to serve as a justice last month.
Mabuya filed the motion because she alleges that Cosner acted unprofessionally during his time as elections coordinator. She explained that information was brought to her attention that Cosner could have been involved with hosting a party in February at his house. She said there was a $3 fee to enter the party, and the funds may have gone to the Ben and Lamar campaign.
“This is reason enough for his position to be reconsidered,” Mabuya said. “So many people seconded the motion because they believe he wasn’t as professional as we would have liked as far as being professional in his rulings.”
The motion will require a public hearing during the second Senate meeting after the motion is made, according to the Green Tape Notebook. Since there is only one meeting left this year, the issue will not be voted on or discussed again until the first meeting in the fall. Cosner will have the opportunity to speak his case at the hearing.
“Lindy is saying that I didn’t do an adequate job as the elections coordinator,” Cosner said. “I believe what she is accusing me of is unfounded.”
Cosner said that if she had issues with his participation in Con Court, she should have spoken up at his appointment hearing, instead of invoking the GTN. She said that she was planning on talking about it, but someone called the question, which means the speaker’s list is passed over, and the body goes straight to a vote.
Sen. Ben Bowman agreed with Cosner, saying this was something that could have been brought up sooner. He described the motion as a political maneuver.
“She knew about this when we confirmed Cedar but waited until the new Senate took office,” Bowman said. “There is no evidence of the things she is talking about, and I hope she withdraws the motion.”
Although he is unsure of what will happen, Bowman is hopeful that Senate will understand that this is the most severe punishment possible for a Con Court justice and will just forget about it.
“We really should be focusing on more important things right now,” Bowman said. “I think most of Senate will just dismiss this.”
Cosner said he will focus on his duties as a justice during the summer but believes he will do well at the public hearing in September.
“I’m confident that I can effectively present my case before Senate,” he said. “Until then, I will continue to work in my position on Con Court.”