JHU SGAThe 114th Session
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Judiciary Meetings

Judiciary / Writ of certiorari · 113th session · dated September 7, 2025 · updated April 19, 2026

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This document is from a previous session and is kept for the record. It may have been amended or replaced since.

Judiciary Meetings

9/7/25 Attendees: Felix, Luc Not Attending: Caitlyn (excused), Aryan (excused) Location: Virtual

Agenda

  • Icebreaker: How was the summer?
  • Working with SGA more?
    • Consult with CSO to see how to increase Judiciary's visibility
    • Aryan to coordinate meeting with head of CSO
  • Weekly meeting times
    • Felix is open to Sat or Sunday
  • New Justice
    • Judiciary needs to find a new justice to fill void of Simon (due to his graduation)
  • Freshman election
    • Need to reach out to Alisa and Jessica to coordinate freshman election. Luc to do!

9/21/25 Attendees: Luc, Felix, Aryan Not attending: Caitlyn (unexcused) Location: Virtual Agenda

  • Picking a new justice
    • Felix: Aishani, Aanya, Valentina
    • Caityln: Julian, Kathernine C, and Valentina
    • Aryan: Valentina, Katherine C, Aanya
    • Luc: Katherine Z, Katherine C, Aishani
    • Interview Process: Aishani, Aanya, Valentina, Julian, Katherine C, Katherine Z.
  • Weekly meeting time: Saturdays at 12 PM.
  • Working with SGA to get stuff on the website and an initiative to spread awareness with CSO
    • Breezeway tabling?
    • Aryan will coordinate with CSO
  • 2 Scenario and 3 General for interviews

9/21/25 Attendees: Luc, Felix. Not Attending: Caitlyn (unexcused) and Aryan (excused) Location: Virtual

Agenda

  • Conduct interviews and read descriptions of candidates!
  • Candidates backgrounds were all discussed, but for privacy, they have been omitted from these notes.
  • Interview lineup:
    • Monday, 5:30-6:30 PM, Felix, Aryan, Luc. Katherine Zhu
    • Wednesday, 5:45-6:45 PM, Felix, Aryan (maybe). Katherine Chen, Caitlyn
    • Thursday, 6:15-7:15 PM, Felix, Aryan. Valentina Peluso
    • Saturday, 12:45-1:45 PM, Luc, Aryan, Felix. Aanya Shah, caitlyn
    • Sunday, 3:45-4:45 PM, Luc, Aryan, Felix. Aishini Chatterjee

10/5/25 Attendees: Luc, Felix, Aryan, Caitlyn Location: BLC 1032

  • Rankings
    • Felix: Aanya, Katherine Z.
    • Aryan: Katherine Z, Aanya
    • Luc: Katherine Z, Aanya
    • Caitlyn: Katherine Z, Aanya
  • Katherine Z: Reasons for choosing
    • Good high school background in Mock trial
    • Good responses to the situation questions and showed much knowledge of the SGA Constitution and other governing bylaws beforehand
    • Willing to investigate further
    • Open to new perspectives when analyzing a situation, and willing to investigate differing perspectives further
    • Knew the guidelines for taking a case as outlined in the rules of the judiciary
    • And knew how to organize her arguments in a clear and coherent manner

10/25/25 Attendees: Luc, Katherine, Aryan, Caitlyn Not attending: Felix (Excused) Location: BLC 1030

Agenda

  • Discussing Rules of the Judiciary and introducing Katherine!
  • Judiciary did an initial read through of the first half of the Rules of the Judiciary
  • Some changes were made and voted on unanimously amongst all of those attending (4-0)
  • Changes proceeded as the following:
    • Part 2, section 1: “Emergency Injunctions shall only be issued by a Justice if waiting for the whole Judiciary to assemble would have a lasting effect on the merits of the case. Additionally, one of the following criteria —as established by federal judicial opinions and synthesized by Wikipedia — must be met in order for a Justice to appropriately file an Injunction” changed to “Emergency Injunctions shall only be issued by a Justice if waiting for the whole Judiciary to assemble would have a lasting effect on the merits of the case. Additionally, one of the following criteria must be met in order for a Justice to appropriately file an Injunction:”
    • “There is a substantial likelihood of the party filing the request for an Emergency Injunction to succeed on the merits of the case” changed to “There is a substantial likelihood of the party filing the request for an Emergency Injunction to succeed on the merits of the case have a petition for a Writ of Certiorari accepted by the Judiciary based upon standing as defined by Part 1, Section 5.”
    • “The balance of harms weighs in the favor of the party filing the request for an Emergency Injunction” removed.

11/1/25 Attendees: Luc, Katherine, Caitlyn, Felix, Aryan Location: Outside of BLC

  • Discussing Rules of the Judiciary
  • Changes proceeded as the following:
    • Part 2, Section 1: “Any one single Justice may issue an Emergency Injunction upon request from a student, group, and/or entity with standing to make such a request. The Judiciary shall meet as soon as possible to determine if the Injunction shall remain in effect.” changed to “Any one single Justice may issue an Emergency Injunction upon request from a student, group, and/or entity with standing to make such a request. Upon issuing of an emergency injunction by a Justice, the requesting party must file a petition for a writ of certiorari within 48 hours if not already filed. If this petition to the Judiciary is not made, the emergency injunction shall be lifted. The Judiciary shall meet as soon as possible to determine if the Injunction shall remain in effect.”
    • “There is a substantial likelihood of the party filing the request for an Emergency Injunction to have a petition for a Writ of Certiorari accepted by the Judiciary based upon standing as defined by Part 1, Section 5” changed to “There is a substantial likelihood of the party filing the request for an Emergency Injunction to succeed on the merits of the case.”
    • Part 3 Section 1: “ While there is no given format for a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari, Petitioners should be as clear, accurate, and full in their descriptions as possible.” changed to “While there is a publicly available form that Petitioners may use to submit a petition for a Writ of Certiorari, Petitioners may submit a petition for a Writ of Certiorari in a different format, given that they satisfy the above requirements. Petitioners should be as clear, accurate, and full in their descriptions as possible.”
    • Part 4 Section 1: Paragraph added “Justice, the Brief shall automatically be entered into the files of the case and submitted to all Justices for consideration thus bypassing the eligibility requirements enunciated in this section.”
  • Luc to reach about to Talk with CSE about Election stuff + Jessica

11/8/25 Attendees: Luc, Aryan, Caitlyn, Felix, Katherine Location: BLC 1030

  • Finalizing changes to the Rules of the Judiciary
  • The following changes were made:
    • Part 4, section 1: “of oral arguments” added
    • Part 4, section 1: “upon receipt” added

1/24/26 1) Confirmation of Chief Justice(Secret Ballot conducted by Luc)

  • Felix Confirmed as Chief Justice (⅘)

2) Propose member list and status and Legislative Review(Felix)

  • Create internal list of SGA members and POCs
  • Send Judiciary members to SGA meetings and record updates on bills (1st vs 2nd reading for funding bills)

3) CSE Grievances List of grievances: - I thought the CSC presentation was pretty solid and I remember asking one of the presenters afterwards about like campaign tips etc and she gave some good advice. Though I feel like some of the material in the presentations itself was a bit outdated / inaccurate. - I think that’s the presentation itself was pretty long (like they ran through the constitution) and really overstated commitment which I think deterred a lot of other people from running. The attitude of the presenters was also kind of bad :( They seemed like they didn’t want to be there - some info was definitely inaccurate it said meets were from like 7-10 every night.

  • Talk to CSE about presentation
  • Have a judiciary member at info session
  • Actual SGA members there (not re-running for office)

4) CSO Discussion

  • Advertise Judiciary more on slides
  • Chat with CSO about what they review with club constitutions
  • Best way to accept inquiries (include POC for the Judiciary)

5) Meeting Time selection

  • Noon Saturdays for meetings
  • Next meeting will be Sunday

6) Updates from Communications (Felix)

  1. Website
  2. Bills Passed
  3. Petition for Writ
  4. Prior decisions
  5. Prior Cases (video)
  6. Rules of the Judiciary
  7. Photos on Website
  8. Judiciary Photo

7) Announcements a. SGA Retreat Feb 8th 10-5:30(Felix) b. Next week meeting scheduling conflict

Action Items

  • Felix will reach out to CSE
  • Caitlyn will reach out to CSO

2/1 Agenda

  1. Legislative and Executive Update
    1. SGA notified of Judicial update
    2. Bills
      1. Funding passed for Jayfriend
  2. Judicial Meetings Formatting
    1. Pre Meeting Email?
      1. Texts
    2. Agenda items
  3. CSE Update(Felix)
    1. Follow up email
    2. Notify Jessica of inability to reach
  4. CSO Update(Caitlyn)
    1. Club Constitution Approval inquiry and judiciary support
    2. Does CSO Advise RSO on Club elections?
    3. Judiciary outreach and awareness: slides?
  5. DoC Update
    1. Contact Sumi cc in VP
  6. Morris Opinion Update(Luc)
  7. Meeting Planning with Jessica
    1. CSE Timeline
    2. Website and communications, emails and Distributing decisions
    3. Stay issued in Spring of 25 ignored
    4. Ask Jessica about booking spaces

Minutes

Action Items Ask CSO Chair to verify meeting time Feb 8 conflict with retreat(Felix) Ask about Agenda and Dresscode and Location of SGA Retreat, Tyler Turner(Felix) Follow up with CSE(Felix) Establish communication Inquire about member status Inquire about timeline

2/7/2026 Time: Noon Attendees: Felix, Caitlyn, Luc, Katherine Excused Absence: Aryan Location: Zoom Agenda

  • Who can make GBM?
    • Felix: May have conflict, will update
    • Caitlyn: Might be able to make it (100 Day Party for Seniors)
    • Luc: Can’t make it
    • Katherine: Will be late, get there at 7:30PM.
    • Ask Aryan
  • SGA Retreat
    • Members can attend at different times.
    • At Student Center at BSC 404
    • Luc: 10-12:30PM
    • Katherine: Coming in the morning, will leave around 12:30PM.
    • Caitlyn: Will try to overlap with other members.
    • Felix:
    • Aryan:
  • CSO Meeting w/ Jazzlyn 2/15 at 5PM
    • General meeting that we will be there for the first portion.
    • Katherine cannot make it; Felix, Luc, and Caitlyn can.
    • Ask CSO for way to disseminate future opinions to RSOs, etc.
  • Judiciary Email
    • Login on desktop.
    • Will try to find a way to login on devices so we can get notifications.
  • Jessica Snell Update
    • Says that Hopkins Groups is the best way to disseminate opinion.
      • Unknown what this means, Felix will follow up!
    • Last Election Problem
      • Luc had issued a stay regarding a case; candidates running for Exec.
    • Judiciary is recommended to attend info sessions to supervise.
      • Jessica would like slides to be updated, and the judiciary and her to review them.
  • CSE Update
    • Alice cannot make it, move meeting to next week.
    • Best time seems to be 2/15 from 11-12PM.
    • Election season starts 2/16.
      • Week of Feb 16th send out election emails
      • Feb 23-27th info sessions (3 total - 2 in person, 1 via Zoom)
        • Apparently, Alice and the CSE may not be able to provide info sessions this week.
        • Proposed moving it up a week, but that would be bad due to the fact that we need to meet with them regarding last semester’s info sessions.
        • Move it back a week?
        • Alice proposed the week of 2/9 or 3/2
          • 2/9 would be before emails are sent out.
      • Feb 26th 11:59pm Candidate Application Forms Due
      • Feb 28th Campaigning Begins
      • March 2nd Media for approval on the ballot due
      • Wednesday March 4th Debate Exec(CSE option)
      • March 6th Meet and Greet, (CSE option)
      • Sunday March 8th Campaigning end
      • March 9th and 10th open 11AM closes 5pm Voting
      • Ballot Review Alice and Felix
      • March 12th Results out by Noon
      • April 14th Inauguration (potentially moved up for spring break)
  • Legislative Business Update
    • Office Hours Act
      • Senator Sean drafted an alternative office hours bill, presented both;
        • One was in first reading, another was in second reading.
        • Second office hours bill most likely removed the difference between primary and secondary.
        • New bill doesn’t follow bylaws.
          • Does it expire after an elapsed period of time?
          • Bylaws aren’t clear on bylaws to pass.
            • In the US system, if the bill signed by the president, someone would have to raise issue w/ the Court for the court to do something.
            • Advisory opinions.
      • Neither passed.
        • New one possibly moved to second reading, first one was tabled.
        • First bill was discharged to IA.
          • and got tabled.
        • New bill is now discharged to IA.
    • ICE Email + Town Hall
      • 2/17/25?
  • Morris Opinion Update
    • Future Decisions Maybe Post on Teams?
      • Rules say send to Exec and then Exec disseminates.
    • Jazzlyn had received an opinion from Jackson personally.
    • Presented a motion to present the Morris Opinion.
    • Jazzlyn walked through it during the meeting.
    • Exec wanted to table it to next week.
  • Whole SGA was defendant in last case, so we still could argue that we could send to the Teams (especially since we sent Writ to Teams chat).

Potential timeline:

  • Emails the week of the 16th, info sessions same week.
  • General agreeance on Exec Debate.
  • March 6th, individual tabling for candidates.

Action Items:

  • Agenda for CSO Meeting on 2/15 at 5PM.
  • Email to CSE Regarding Problematic Election Timeline
  • Ask Jessica about Hopkins Groups.
  • Inquire about New Website Structure

2/15/26 Meeting with CSE

  • Action items
    • Have at least 2 judiciary members sign up to go to info sessions
    • Figure out executive debate availability
    • Email absent CSE members (Jessie, Irene, Jasmine)
      • 1-2 business days to submit resignation, and then will bring it up to the SGA on Tuesday
    • Get going on Dos and Don’ts and email Jo when ready (sent out after info sessions)

2/21/2026 Time: Noon Attendees: Caitlyn Ramdat, Felix Titre, Luc Mazzanobile, Aryan Gautam, Katherine Zhu Excused Absence: Location: BLC 1030 Agenda

  1. Legislative Update
    1. JHUMA funding bill passed
    2. Funding bill Jay Fill A passed
    3. Spring Election discussions and CSE confirmations
      1. Senate displeased with timeline and abrupt notification, concerns about candidate turnout, concerns about CSE fitness
      2. Senate concerns about not meeting candidates before confirming for additional term
      3. Senate does not confirm Alisa or Emily
      4. Jessica states timeline must be pushed till CSE members confirmed
  2. Meeting with Jessica discussion
  3. Writ of Certiorari deliberation
  4. CSE Applications discussion
  5. Emails

Minutes

  • Summary of CSE Senate Meeting Discussion
    • Long term history of CSE disengagement; Luc had spoken about this with Jessica and Charles.
      • They would have these problems before, which is why LEED has taken a more active role in the process (for about the last 8 years).
    • Talked about how they didn’t want to elect people they didn’t meet.
    • Importance of carry-over.
    • Concerns about the constitutionality of being in the election season without active members of the CSE.
    • Kept skirting the question of what a 1-year term means.
      • Constitutionality of being in the election season without a confirmed CSE.
  • Jessica
  • Caitlyn, Jessica, and Felix received an email regarding Alisa’s resignation.
  • Luc says that before his position, they had the CSE in their positions for life.
  • Currently have 0 CSE Elections.
  • 0/5 justices accept the Writ: Remedies have no current standing.

2/28/2026 Time: Noon Attendees: Felix Titre, Aryan Gautam, Katherine Zhu Excused Absence: Luc Mazzanobile Unexcused Absence: Caitlyn Ramdat Location: BLC 1030 Agenda

  1. Attendance Policies Review
  2. Legislative Update
    1. Bylaws bill moved to IA
  3. CSE Recruitment
  4. CSE constitutionality deliberation
  5. Advisory Opinion

Minutes

  1. Katherine and Aryan agreed to resuming attendance policy
    1. Discussion on attendance policy for interviews and other ad hoc meetings
      1. No policy will be attached good faith effort to attend interviews and ad hoc meetings
  2. Judiciary will continue to review progress of Senator Jaden’s extensive bylaw amendments
  3. CSE Recruitment goes well, Grace accepted position, Alysa will be interviewed tomorrow
  4. CSE Constitutionality inconsistencies regarding membership appointment and seats will be brought to the attention of the CSE
  5. Aryan suggest doing bullet point notes from each justice to assemble together advisory opinion draft
    1. Katherine and Felix Agree
    2. Timeline
      1. Justices prepare questions to address in the scope of the advisory opinion draft prior to first march meeting
      2. Justices prepare

Action Item

  1. Advisory Opinion Scope Questions
  2. Communicate the updates regarding cse Appointment to the Senate

3/7/2026 Time: Noon Attendees: Felix Titre, Luc Mazzanobile, Katherine Zhu, and Caitlyn Ramdat

  • CSE: Emily Hong (12-12:40)

Excused Absence: Aryan Gautam Location: BLC 1030

Agenda

  • Will stick with the election timeline that starts on 3/9/2026.
  • Hold virtual informational sessions.
    • Emily agrees.
    • She is free past 5PM on weekdays.
    • Maybe:
      • Tuesday, 3/10 5PM (before GBM)
        • Caitlyn
        • Felix
        • Katherine(?)
      • Thursday 3/12 5:30PM
        • Caitlyn
        • Felix
        • Katherine(?)
      • Friday 3/13 4PM
        • Luc
  • Booking a room for executive debate.
    • Emily is free 5:30-6:30PM on 3/23
    • Debates usually run an hour
    • Reach out to Grace and Alysa.
  • Email should be released by 5PM tonight!
  • CSE Chair has to confirm w/ Chief Justice what the results look like (w/Jessica)
  • Looking at the GBM Notes:
    • Director of Comms is an elected position.
    • CSE-Judiciary changes have been made.
      • Reappointment and reconfirmation of CSE members.
      • Expire in the spring semester.
    • Director of Research conflict.
    • Emily, Alysa, and Grace confirmed!

Action Items:

  • Email regarding updated timeline
  • Reach out to Grace and Alysa regarding availability for both info sessions

3/27/2026 Time: Noon Attendees: Felix Titre, Luc Mazzanobile, Katherine Zhu, Aryan Gautam, and Excused Absence: Caitlyn Ramdat Location: BLC 1030

Agenda:

  1. Legislative Update
  2. CSE Pulse Check
  3. Reconsideration of Meeting Time

Minutes:

  1. Legislative Update
    1. Majority of bills were funding related
    2. Minor accountability bill passed regarding executive responsibilities
    3. Election day funding bill passed
  2. CSE Pulse Check
    1. Election season is going well
    2. Student body engagement is higher than in previous years
    3. CSE has met all responsibilities and is receiving more direct feedback and communication with candidates
    4. Exec debate minor notes regarding communicating earlier in advance and providing clear rules and regulations for speaking time formatting and opportunities for rebuttal
    5. Reminding CSE to elect a chair
    6. Re-opening application next week
  3. Reconsideration of meeting time
    1. Meeeting time changed to noon sunday for remainder of the semester
    2. April 26th last meeting and professional attire for photos

4/12/26 Time: Noon Attendees: Felix Titre, Katherine Zhu, Aryan Gautam, and Caitlyn Ramdat Excused Absence: Luc Mazzanobile Location: BLC 1030 Agenda

  1. Election Updates
    1. Elections are over
    2. Special elections have started
  2. CSE Appointments
    1. Interview timeline: will be next week.
    2. Judiciary will be managing.
    3. Form will be sent out.
  3. Inauguration
    1. April 14th from 5:30-
  4. Legislative Review
    1. Committee update presentation

4/19/26 Time: Noon Attendees: Caitlyn Ramdat, Felix Titre, Luc Mazzanobile, Aryan Gautam, Katherine Zhu Excused Absence: Location: BLC 1030 Agenda

  1. CSE Appointments
    1. Set deadline for intent to return
    2. Go through applications
      1. Applicants were notified of interviews
  2. Advisory Opinion
    1. Decision rendered, J. Ramdat will author
  3. Judiciary Appointment Timeline
    1. Will liaise with President Yu to discuss timeline