ASM Chair Haia Al Zein Keeps Seat After Student Court Dismisses Second Appeal

Rep. Michael Harry lost his final legal challenge to the Associated Students of Madison chair election on Sept. 29. The student judiciary dismissed his second petitioner's brief, which he filed on Sept. 22. This decision confirms the outcome of the April 24 vote for the 33rd session chair, a race Harry lost to Haia Al Zein.

Harry’s original dispute began on April 30 when he submitted a brief arguing the election results were invalid. He amended that filing on Sept. 14 to request that alleged violators be barred from future chair races. In his most recent submission, Harry claimed the judiciary mishandled its previous order and that Chief Justice Chloe Sieman misapplied rules during proceedings. He also argued that the requirement for a two-thirds majority to adopt a special order lacked precedent.

The dispute hinged on a vote taken at the Sept. 16 student council meeting. Representatives voted narrowly against adopting a special order to discuss Harry’s first brief. Adoption required a two-thirds majority. While a majority of representatives voted in favor, the count did not reach the necessary threshold. Had the motion passed, representatives could have re-elected the chair by a simple majority vote.

The dismissal notice indicated that a majority of student justices recused themselves from the decision. Chief Justice Sieman was among those who stepped back, a move Harry had requested. Because so many justices recused, the student judiciary did not assign a full panel to hear the case.

Chair Al Zein issued a statement to The Daily Cardinal welcoming the outcome. “The Student Judiciary’s decision gives me hope for the remainder of the 33rd session, and I hope it serves as an opportunity for us to work more collaboratively and move forward in greater unity,” she said. Harry and the student judiciary declined to provide further comment on the dismissal.

The student judiciary issued its initial order on Sept. 8, allowing the first brief to be discussed as a special order. That order modified an earlier version from April 30. With the second brief now dismissed, the chair election dispute has concluded. Al Zein remains the chair of the 33rd session of the Associated Students of Madison.