Initiating a Case or Advisory Opinion
This page contains guidelines on how to file a case, motion, petition for an advisory opinion, and other documents.
For specific procedures, please review the Manual of Procedure and Practitioner's Handbook page.
Please note that all filings must be submitted electronically. If a document initiates a new proceeding (e.g. a complaint or a petition for an advisory opinion), it should be emailed to csg.chiefjustice@umich.edu. If a document is filed as part of an ongoing proceeding, it should be emailed to the existing email thread associated with that proceeding. If you do not have access to that email thread, email the document to csg.chiefjustice@umich.edu.
Filing a Case
A case is initiated when a plaintiff files a complaint. A complaint must contain (1) a plain statement of the grounds for the Court’s jurisdiction, (2) a plain statement of the claim or claims showing that the plaintiff is entitled to relief, (3) a plain statement of the demand for the relief sought.
The Manual of Procedure requires a complaint to allege facts supporting its claims with sufficient specificity that if all the facts were proven true, the plaintiff would be entitled to relief on the relevant claims.
You must use the following template for a complaint: [LINK]
To respond to a complaint, a defendant should file an answer to a complaint. An answer must (1) state in plain terms the defenses to each claim asserted in the complaint and (2) admit or deny the allegations in the complaint. An answer must be filed in accordance with a deadline set by the Court.
You must use the following template for an answer to a complaint: [LINK]
Filing a Petition for an Advisory Opinion
An advisory opinion is a Court’s non-binding interpretation of the governing documents. The All-Campus Constitution authorizes the Court to issue advisory opinions in response to questions referred to it by a CSG official or a candidate in a CSG election. Please note that “CSG official” is a term of art referring to officials who either (1) hold elected or appointed positions created by the All-Campus Constitution or (2) are designated as “CSG officials” by the Compiled Code. The Court has discretion to issue an advisory opinion based on a requests’ timeliness, importance, relevance, vagueness of underlying doctrine, and other relevant considerations.
To request an advisory opinion, an eligible individual must file a petition for an advisory opinion. The Manual of Procedure requires that such a petition contains the following information:
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A showing that the petitioner is eligible to request an advisory opinion.
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A statement of the question presented.
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A showing of cause why the Court should exercise its discretion to issue an advisory opinion on the question presented.
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The identification of any pending proceedings that relate to the question presented.
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A statement, at the petitioner’s discretion, of the arguments or considerations that bear on the answer to the question presented.
You must use the following template for an advisory opinion petition: [LINK].​
Appealing a Lower Judicial Decision
The All-Campus Constitution grants the Court jurisdiction over appeals from certain decisions of lower student government courts. As of the latest revisions to this page, there are no lower student government courts at the University of Michigan.
Filing a Motion
A party may make any motion traditionally recognized in American law and any motion contemplated by the Manual of Procedure or a valid provision of the CSG governing documents, including but not limited to the following:
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A motion to dismiss;
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A motion for summary judgment;
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A motion for default judgment;
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A motion for initial hearing en banc;
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A motion for rehearing en banc;
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A motion for panel rehearing;
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A motion for a preliminary injunction;
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A motion to sever defendants;
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A motion for joinder;
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A motion for a continuance;
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A motion for recusal; and
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A motion to suspend a Rule in the Manual of Procedure.
To file a motion, you must use the following template: [LINK].​
Filing an Amicus Brief
Amicus curiae is a Latin term meaning “friend of the Court.” Amici are individuals or organizations who are not party to a legal case but who desire to provide information, expertise, or arguments to the Court. Any student (other than a Justice, party, or counsel for a party), any student organization, and any student government may serve as an amicus and submit a brief of amicus curiae.
A brief of amicus curiae must identify the party or parties supported by the amicus and contain (1) a plain statement of of the identity of the amicus curiae, (2) a plain statement of the amicus curiae’s interests in the proceedings, and (3) a statement disclosing whether any party or party’s counsel was involved—directly or indirectly—in the authorship or submission of the brief.
To file an amicus brief, you must use the following template: [LINK].
