Supreme Court of the Student Body

The UF Supreme Court of the Student Body is the official judicial branch of Student Government. The UF Supreme Court of the Student Body serves as an independent branch of government that ensures that the necessary checks and balances are in place to keep both the executive and legislative branches from exceeding their respective powers as delegated to them by the UF Constitution and statutes. The main function of the court is to ensure that the actions of the other branches of government do not violate the existing UF Student Body Statutes or the UF Constitution.

 

The court is comprised of four associate justices and one chief justice. Each justice is a law student that has been appointed by the Student Government President and confirmed by the Senate. Each of the justices of the court enjoys an appointment that extends until their graduation – thereby insulating the court from the pressures of the political process.

 

The court is not a political body, and strives to achieve a just resolution to each dispute properly brought under its jurisdiction. In order to achieve this result, the court regularly holds hearings whereby petitioners may testify as to their position on the matter in dispute. At the conclusion of testimony the justices retire to draft an opinion that includes the outcome of the case.

 

 

Chief Justice of the Student Body

David M. Kerner

chiefjustice@sg.ufl.edu

 

David Kerner was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Student Body by Student Body President Jordan Johnson, and confirmed by the Student Senate on July 14^th, 2009. David has a well documented record of exemplary service to the University of Florida and to his community.

 

In 2004, David graduated from the Kirkpatrick Institute of Public Safety Police Academy and was sworn in as a Police Officer at the age of 20. In 2006, while simultaneously enrolled as a full-time student at UF, David went on to earn the “Police Officer of the Year” award for the City of Alachua Police Department; the youngest officer to ever earn this award. After graduating with an undergraduate degree, David was admitted to the UF Levin College of Law where he quickly distinguished himself as a leader amongst his peers. He was elected in a college wide election to serve as Vice-President of the Law College Council and was appointed to serve as the Chairman of the 2009-2010 Student Government Constitutional Revision Commission.  He was subsequently appointed to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 2008.

 

As the Chief Judicial Officer of one of the largest student government’s in the nation, David serves as the leader of a student court charged with resolving, ruling and mediating disputes between the various branches of student government with a over a 13 million dollar budget. In addition, the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction in a wide array of student body issues and controversies and will act to protect the interest of the student body by interpreting and enforcing the provisions of student body law and the student body constitution. David has stated that his top priority as Chief Justice is to ensure that the Supreme Court remains open and accessible to all members of the student body and that it serves as a neutral and fair arbiter of disputes.  

 

David Kerner is a 2006 graduate of the University of Florida, graduating with a Bachelor of Art in Political Science and Criminology minor. He maintains his law enforcement certification and remains employed as a part-time state law enforcement officer. David served as a summer law clerk for Judge Mark E. Polen of the 4^th District Court of Appeal during his 1L summer, and served as a summer law clerk for the West Palm Beach firm of Schuler, Halvorson and Weisser, PA, during his 2L summer. David is expected to graduate with his Juris Doctor in May of 2010 and anticipates practicing as a civil trial attorney in Palm Beach County. He is a loyal member of the Gator Nation and indicated in his confirmation hearings in front of the Student Senate that serving as Chief Justice is a distinct and unique honor and one that he is very proud of.