Inside ASG’s Judicial Branch and Its Role in Student Government

The Associated Student Government Judicial Branch (ASGJ) plays a vital role in ensuring fairness, accountability, and integrity within ASG through the leadership of Chief Justice Paige Williams and her team of justices and proxies including Associate Justice Maggie Schmidt. Despite often being labeled as a closed-off branch, ASGJ is deeply connected to the broader ASG community, and serves as an essential resource for the student body.

Schmidt, a sophomore, is currently serving in her first year as an Associate Justice and Williams has served as a Judicial Proxy, Associate Justice, and now in her senior year, Chief Justice. Williams and Schmidt got their starts in ASG through Freshman Leadership Forum and were encouraged to apply for ASGJ by participating in the judicial simulations and Elections Promotions Committee (EPC).

There is an air of mystery surrounding ASGJ, with many unaware of the vital role they serve for our organization. While it is true that judicial meetings and hearings are not open to the public as other branch meetings are, this is due to the confidential nature of the materials they handle, such as financial reports and complaints.

However, the closed meetings do not isolate ASGJ from the rest of ASG. The branch plays an integral role in ensuring that the Code and Constitution of ASG are upheld while also encouraging members of ASG and the student body to reach out with any questions or concerns. At its core, ASGJ is a resource for students.

As Chief Justice, Williams oversees her branch and is the main point of contact for the justices and any requests or complaints that come through. She has also been working to further integrate ASGJ into ASG by encouraging intra-branch collaboration, friendship, and transparency. In regard to elections, Williams helps plan and create digital forms with Qualtrics representative Ling Ting to make sure the ballots are ready to be sent to the student body.

The primary function of ASGJ is to interpret and apply the laws outlined in the ASG Code and Constitution regarding interpretation requests, general complaints, election violations, and ethics complaints. If a process requires a hearing, ASGJ meets to provide impartial input, reach a fair conclusion, and report back to the requester.

ASGJ is also tasked with planning and executing three elections: Senate Fall Vacancy, Homecoming, and the Spring General Election for the senate and executive team. Currently, ASGJ is working with Vice President Laney Kellybrew and her team to plan a candidate orientation session and ensure the Homecoming King and Queen election is being run fair and smoothly. ASGJ also hosts candidate information sessions for the fall and spring elections.

In Schmidt’s opinion, ASGJ operates as the backbone for ASG and functions as a tool for “keeping [ASG] a well-rounded community,” said Schmidt.

“These people were appointed because they’re impartial and fair, they’re good at communication and seeing both sides of a story,” Williams said. “It’s fun, lighthearted, and there’s only 11 of us, so we’re all pretty tight with each other.”

The small size of their branch — just 11 members — encourages a close-knit community and friendly dynamic. Williams appreciates the welcoming environment complemented by a strong sense of humor shared by the justices, noting it as one of her favorite parts of being in ASGJ.

Mentorship is an aspect of ASGJ that Schmidt has been glad to experience. Williams’ leadership and delegation skills have helped the justices perform to the best of their abilities, and Schmidt looks forward to continuing to learn from behind the scenes, especially through the future elections and EPC efforts.

Williams and Schmidt hope that students will continue to use the judicial branch as a resource, and an entity that does not necessarily speak for them, but on behalf of them.

“Everything we do comes from a place of [wanting] everyone to succeed, but it just has to be done right,” Schmidt said. “Don’t be scared to talk to anyone [in ASGJ] about something going on.”

Through their leadership, integrity, and dedication, Williams, Schmidt, and the ASGJ team continue to strengthen the foundation of ASG. Although confidentiality is a key pillar of their work, it does not separate them from the larger ASG community. Their efforts — often taking place behind the scenes — ensure that every process remains fair, transparent, and student-centered, reminding the campus that justice truly lies at the heart of student government.

This little razorback, covered in the signatures of past Chief Justices, has been passed down through generations of the University of Arkansas’s ASG Judicial Branch Chief Justices. Now proudly sitting on Chief Justice Paige Williams’ desk, it serves as a symbol of legacy and one of her sweetest ASGJ memories.