A closed judicial hearing for Student Association President JoJo Dodd takes place Friday (Jan. 29) and an open SA Senate hearing is set to take place next Tuesday (Feb. 2) at 6 p.m. in the Colvard Student Union Fowlkes Auditorium, in light of a constitutional violation Dodd committed earlier this week.
SA presidential candidate and current Vice President Roxanne Raven broke constitutional rules as well earlier this week, and was issued a violation Thursday because her Twitter account originally retweeted Dodd’s endorsement.
On Jan. 25, Dodd violated the SA constitution by publicly endorsing SA presidential candidate and current SA Vice President Roxanne Raven, releasing a statement via Twitter in support of her.
Following this, the SA Senate began an impeachment process on the night of Jan. 26. The Judicial Council requested that Dodd recant his statement from social media, make a statement recognizing the unconstitutional nature of his actions and apologize to the student body. Dodd was given until Jan. 27 to comply, which he did not.
A statement was released by Dodd shortly after the impeachment process began by the Senate, stating he endorsed Raven because he had no choice, and he is not convinced every candidate is committed to the effort of being SA president.
“…This is an effort to punish me for speaking my mind, but no fear of punishment will silence my efforts to make MSU a better place,” the end of Dodd’s statement reads.
 Since Dodd did not comply with requests of the Judicial Council to remove his public endorsement and make an apology to MSU students, he became subject to judicial council disciplinary action.
Elections Commissioner and Chief Justice Jamie Aron said the Council will hold a closed hearing Friday for this and there’s a possibility Dodd can be fined $50. Seven members of the Judicial Council will attend.
“He was given until Wednesday at 5 p.m. to remove his post and comply,” Aron said. “Now, if he does not comply with our sanctions (fine of $50), we can remove him from office (if he is proven guilty and fined).”
Current SA Senator and Vice Presidential candidate Hunt Walne said the SA senate hearing that is set for Tuesday is the second part of the impeachment process.
“The meeting will begin with an opportunity for JoJo to plead guilty or not guilty,” Walne said. “If he pleads guilty, then there is no hearing. We would just go into the part of the meeting where the Senate determines the sanctions. If he pleads not guilty, then there’s a specific protocol in the constitution that Jamie will lead. There, we as a senate body will determine if he is guilty or not guilty. Then, if he is proven not guilty (by the senate) it is over. If he is proven guilty (by the senate), we will move forward with determining sanctions.”
Walne said sanctions can range anywhere from a $50 fine, to withholding pay, suspension, or removal from office at the greatest extent. An outcome will be determined by the end of Tuesday night.
The SA Judicial Council and SA Senate branch are two different entities. According to Walne, Dodd is not being put on trial for the same violation twice. 
“The judicial branch can put him on trial for breaking the law essentially, but the Legislative branch under which the Senate falls has power to vote and impeach him,” Walne said. “The Judicial Council can only provide fines, and only if he doesn’t comply can they remove him from office.”
If found guilty during Friday’s council hearing, Dodd must pay sanctions set by the Judicial Council Friday. Then, Tuesday’s Senate hearing will be the final step in the impeachment process. If he is found guilty and fined, but refuses to pay  sanctions Friday, he will be removed from office.
Aron said Raven’s violation includes a 10-percent deduction of her campaign budget.
“The elections board met last night to discuss Roxanne, and she has been issued a violation. We are issuing one major violation that is two-part,” Aron said. “One violation is because Roxanne’s Twitter account retweeted JoJo’s endorsement. Although she did take it down later, it did happen. The second part is because members of her campaign team retweeted it on their own account. Once you become an affiliate of a candidate, then you are responsible for what you do.”
Raven said she accepts full responsibility, but still believes a retweet should not equal acceptance of an endorsement statement.
 “I was given a violation for retweeting, but I did not personally retweet it myself,” Raven said. “My campaign manager did it without asking me and I unretweeted it as soon as I noticed. I fully accept responsibility for my team. That’s part of what I agreed to as a candidate, so I accept the violation. I still don’t believe a retweet should equal acceptance of an endorsement statement.”
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Editor’s note: The original article stated the SA Senate made original requests for Dodd to remove his endorsement, and apologize to MSU students, etc. It was the Judicial Council that made those requests. The article also stated Dodd will be fined $50 on Friday (Jan. 29) by the Judicial Council. The Judicial Council’s hearing Friday hosts a possibility that Dodd could be fined, but will first determine whether he is guilty or not guilty. The Reflector regrets this error.