News
Justice faces accusations from SGA: Talks of impeachment, legality and reasoning in question
The Pointer
jmath438@uwsp.edu
The Student Government Association senate created an ad-hoc committee last Thursday to investigate chief justice Arturo Vigueras to determine if impeachment is necessary.
Vigueras had been questioned recently about the legality of having a third election, due to the lack of turnout in previous elections, and expressed that he felt it was not a legal move.
Forming the committee was put forth by Senator Sam Glenzer and Speaker of the Senate Saul Newton.
“As the chief justice, he needs to be trusted as the chief interpreter of the constitution, and if he is going to be blatantly ignoring the constitution, then he is failing at his job,” said Glenzer.
SGA bylaws disagree, stating the duties of the chief justice as to “sit, vote, render, and write decisions on all cases before the court, unless the power of writing decision is assigned to another justice” and to “be the spokesperson of the judicial branch, unless the chief justice delegates the power to another justice.” No court case is currently being heard on the legality of hosting a third election.
“The court is there to guard the rules of student government,” said Vigueras. “The constitution, the bylaws and to ensure that they apply to all students, not just them. The rules are the level playing field that we have to make things better.”
Newton was unavailable for comments about the motion.
“I haven’t done anything wrong,” said Vigueras. “Members of the court want me to continue to the end of my term and as long as I have their support, I am going to remain in my position as chief justice regardless of what the outcome is.”
SGA executives have expressed concern over Vigueras in the past.
“I’ve been really hung up on this one all year,” said Katie Kloth, SGA president, in November when she appointed Vigueras from vice chief justice to chief justice. “And I am just going to be really frank with you; it would be really irresponsible of me to tell you that I think he is a good candidate, ‘cause I don’t. Just a couple of examples, you should know this and you have the right to know, he has been on SGA executive staff before and he was fired. Last year he was almost impeached from the judicial branch, and I just want you to know.”
According to former senator Andrew Letson, it was her right not to put him up for a vote if she really didn’t want him as chief justice or felt he was unqualified.
Vice President Kirk Cychosz, believes that Vigueras conducts himself unprofessionally and there is a dissatisfaction with that.
“He’s kind of a prima donna and has no institutional knowledge,” said Cychosz, who has served on SGA for approximately six months himself.
“That’s completely ridiculous,” said Letson. “He’s been part of the judicial branch since the beginning. Before that he was a member of the executive board. I believe truly there are individuals within the executive branch who just don’t want him to be part of SGA.”
Vigueras has been involved with SGA since spring 2004. He has held the position of multi-cultural issues director, senator, associate justice, vice chief justice, clerk of courts and chief justice. The ad-hoc committee must bring their recommendation on impeachment back within two weeks.
