Court Procedures

This section of the website is being updated. Please refer to the PDF below for the current UJ procedures (10/3/07)

The following outline of procedure will be adhered to in all cases and controversies heard before the Union Judiciary. Please note that this procedure has been set and decided upon within the jurisdiction of the Union Judiciary, as per Article IV, Section 6 of the Student Union Constitution. All questions regarding procedure should be directed to the Chief Justice.

Procedure for Emergency Action By the Union Judiciary

Procedure for Filing Application-In the event that any person needs an immediate response, from here on called Emergency Relief, such application shall be electronically e-mailed and conveyed to those against whom the emergency relief is sought and to the Union Judiciary via uj@lists.brandeis.edu.
Form of Application-The application shall set out succintly, the procedural posture of the case and reference all relavent pleadings, and shall contain a concise statement of the facts that justify granting emeregency relief, and concise arguement in favor thereof.
Granting of Emergency Relief- In no case will Emergency relief be issued absent of a showing of irreparable harm to the applicant if the relief is not granted.
Applications in Chambers-In the event an application is of a highly pressing nature such that it might be mooted before the full court can likely convene; an application for an immediate ruling might be made to any Justice (called Application in Chambers).
1. Form of Application-The application shall be filed in accordance with part a of this rule.
2. Method of Making Application-An application in Chambers might only be made by contacting one or more Justices and the opposing party by telephone or through personal contact.
3. Proceedings on Application-A Justice might grant an application in chambers if the normal equities favor it and he grants Certiorari or feels that probable jurisdiction exists, otherwise he shall deny the application. Application might be then made to another justice.
4. Appeal of Ruling of Justice In Chambers-Within 24 hours of the granting of Emergency Relief in Chambers the full court shall review the order and, considering the matter de novo, either continue, modify, or vacate the order as they see fit.

Structure of Trial

Opening Statements (limit of 5 minutes each)
1. Claimant's Opening Statement
2. Respondent's Opening Statement
Presentation of Evidence
1. Claimant presents case in full. This presentation of evidence and argument may be done in the form of witnesses or through other means.
2. Respondent presents their case in full. This presentation of evidence and argument may be done in the form of witnesses or through other means.

After each witness is questioned, the opposing party will have five minutes for cross-examination. If no witnesses are presented and the opposing party wishes to give a direct, five minute rebuttal at the start of their own presentation of evidence, they may do so.

Closing Statements (limit of 10 minutes each)
1. Claimant's Closing Statement
2. Respondent's Closing Statement

Rules of Evidence

All evidence must be presented to the clerk of the court, who will forward it on to the opposing party at least two days in advance of the hearing.
The Union Judiciary reserves the right to request evidence regarding statements in dispute, and other such information up to 24 hours after the trial. Any information collected in such a manner will be forwarded to the opposing party, and the opposing party will have a chance to respond after having received it.

In the interest of time, please arrange to meet with the opposing side to decide before the hearing what the agreed-upon facts consist of. This ensures that you will not overwhelm the hearing and the Union Judiciary with excessive argumentation over moot points.

Note: The Union Judiciary reserves the right, as granted by the Constitution, to amend, modify, or in any way change these rules at any time before, during, or after the trial.

Any and all questions may be directed to the Chief Justice.