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Ohio University Judiciaries

Understanding the Court Process vs. the Ohio University Judiciary Process

*NOTE: Ohio University Judiciaries is now known as the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility.

When a student breaks a city, state or federal law, they have also broken the Ohio University Student Code of Conduct. (Other non-illegal actions can also be violations of the Code of Conduct, see below.)A student who breaks the Student Code of Conduct can be sanctioned by Ohio University’s Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility.

The Center for Student Legal Services has attorneys that assist students with their case in the Athens courts, not in Judiciary matters. There is a student organization called Students Defending Students that assists students with the judiciary process.

To make it a little more clear, here are some examples:

Example #1

A student consumes alcohol under the age of 21.

  • The student is caught and cited and/or arrested by a police agency. They have broken the law by committing a misdemeanor in the first degree and must appear in Athens Municipal Court. The Center for Student Legal Services has licensed attorneys to give students legal advice and legal representation in their court case.
  • Since the student broke the law, they have also broken the Ohio University Student Code of Conduct. The police agency that cited/arrested the student will forward notice of the student’s criminal offense to Ohio University’s Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility. If the director determines that the judicial referral is appropriate, the student will be scheduled a Procedural Interview with a hearing authority to review the allegation. This is only a basic guideline to the judiciary process; please see the procedural section of the Ohio University Student Code of Conduct for complete information. To assist students with judicial matters, a student organization, Students Defending Students, is available to help students through the judiciary process. Representation by a private attorney (not a CSLS attorney) is permitted but seldom used for a Procedural Interview or any associated hearings with Judiciaries.

*Pursuant to state law, The Center for Student Legal Services may not represent a student in Ohio University Judiciary actions, internal Ohio University matters or lawsuits against Ohio University or its employees. (see Ohio Revised Code Section 3345.022)

In short, if you have broken the law and are facing sanctions from the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility, you will have to go to The Center for Student Legal Services to get an attorney to help with your court case and Students Defending Students to help with your matter.

 Example #2

1) A student is accused of plagiarizing in a paper they have submitted for a class.

The professor presents the accusations to Ohio University’s  Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility. If the director determines that the judicial referral is appropriate, the student will be scheduled a Procedural Interview with a hearing authority to review the allegation. This is only a basic guideline to the judiciary process; please see the procedural section of the Ohio University Student Code of Conduct for complete information. To assist students with judicial matters, a student organization, Students Defending Students, is available to help students through the judiciary process. CSLS can give limited advice in Judiciary matters.

Plagiarism is a breach of the Ohio University Code of Conduct, not a legal issue. An attorney is not needed for a Procedural Interview or any associated hearings. If the allegations turn out to be false and the student wants to take legal action against the university, The Center for Student Legal Services cannot assist with this. Pursuant to state law, The Center for Student Legal Services may not represent a student in Ohio University Judiciary actions, internal Ohio University matters or lawsuits against Ohio University or its employees. (see Ohio Revised Code Section 3345.022)

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Will The Center for Student Legal Services tell the university about my criminal offense?

A: No. All information obtained about your case is strictly confidential and cannot be released to a third party without your written consent.

 

Q: I know The Center for Student Legal Services can’t represent me in a Judiciary hearing, but can I make an appointment to get advice about my judicial issue?

A: Yes. However, our attorney can give limited advice based on their understanding of your situation but they cannot get involved or interfere in any way with a Judiciary matter. Contacting Students Defending Students is the best way to get help with your issue because they specialize in the Judiciary process.

 

Q: If I admit to being guilty of a criminal offense in my Judiciary hearing, but I haven’t had my court case yet, will Judiciaries tell the Athens County Municipal Court that I admitted guilt?

A: Any time a defendant admits anything, it can be subpoenaed for court. However, this is rarely done in Athens due to the differences between court and Judiciaries.

 

Q: Will the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility kick me out of school?

A: It depends on the number of offenses you have committed during your time at Ohio University, the severity of your offense, whether you were already on probation at the time of your offense and other possible factors. Every case is different. Please see the Ohio University Student Code of Conduct procedural section.

This information does not constitute legal advice, nor is it intended as a substitute for legal advice.

 

This information does not constitute legal advice, nor is it intended as a substitute for legal advice.