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2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Dedman School of Law: Student Code of Professional Responsibility

Preamble

The law is a learned profession that demands from its members standards of honesty and integrity, and these standards are far higher than those imposed on society as a whole. A dishonest attorney is a menace to the profession and to society. Because there is no reason to believe that dishonest students will become honest attorneys, insistence on the highest ethical standards must begin in law school. This Student Code of Professional Responsibility is dedicated to that end.

The code is designed to assure that each student can be evaluated on his or her own merits, free from the unfairness of competing with students who attempt to enhance their own efforts unfairly. This code describes the obligations of students, faculty and administrators; the composition and jurisdiction of the honor council; and the procedures to be followed in determining whether a student has violated the code and the sanctions that may be imposed. Although law students are subject to this Student Code of Professional Responsibility, as students of Southern Methodist University, they are also subject to the University Student Code of Conduct to the extent that the latter is not inconsistent with this code. (See the University publication SMU Policies for Community Life.)

Although the failure to report one’s own act or another student’s act that may constitute a violation of this code is not itself a violation of this code, it is the sense of the Dedman School of Law community that a student should report conduct that he or she reasonably suspects does constitute a violation.

Section I. Definitions

  1. Assistant Dean – the assistant dean for student affairs or that person to whom the dean has delegated the functions of that office
  2. Chair – that faculty member serving as the chair of the honor council (See Section II A3 in the Student Code.)
  3. Code – the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University Student Code of Professional Responsibility
  4. Complaint – the formal charging document submitted to the council by the investigating committee when it finds probable cause to bring a reported violation to a hearing (See Section VIII F in the Student Code.)
  5. Council – the honor council (See Section II in the Student Code.)
  6. Days – calendar days
  7. Dean – the dean of the Dedman School of Law
  8. Defense Counsel – the individual who, either by the accused student’s selection or by appointment, shall represent the accused student during an investigation, hearing or appeal (See Section IX A in the Student Code.)
  9. Instructor – any person, regardless of rank or title, who teaches law students at the School of Law
  10. Investigating Committee – the committee appointed by the dean to investigate possible violations of the code (See Section IV B13 and Section VIII F. in the Student Code.)
  11. Knowingly – A person acts knowingly, or with knowledge, with respect to the nature of his or her conduct or to the circumstances surrounding such conduct, when he or she is aware of the nature of such conduct or that such circumstances exist. A person also acts knowingly, or with knowledge, with respect to a result of his or her conduct, when that person is aware that the conduct is reasonably certain to cause that result.
  12. Law School – the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University
  13. Negligence – A person acts negligently with respect to circumstances surrounding his or her conduct or the result of that conduct when he or she ought to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur.
  14. Purposefully – A person acts purposefully, or with purpose with respect to an act or to a result, when it is his or her intention, conscious object or desire to engage in the act or to cause the result.
  15. Recklessly – A person acts recklessly, or is reckless, with respect to circumstances surrounding his or her conduct or the result of that conduct, when he or she is aware of but consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur.
  16. Report of an Alleged Violation – a report to the assistant dean of a possible violation of the code (See Section VII in the Student Code.)
  17. School Prosecutor – the member of the investigating committee chosen by that committee to prosecute the accused student at the hearing and any possible appeal (See Section VIII F and Section IX E in the Student Code.)
  18. Student – any person who is, or has been, enrolled at the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
  19. Transactional Immunity – immunity that bars prosecution under this code of the immunized person for any activity mentioned in the immunized testimony
  20. Use Immunity – immunity that bars the admission of the immunized testimony, and any evidence derived therefrom, and the same from being used against the immunized person, at any hearing before the honor council

Section II. The Honor Council

  1. The honor council shall consist of six members.
    1. Three of the members shall be students. Under rules promulgated by the Student Bar Association, the student body shall elect the three student members and one alternate at the time the Student Bar Association representatives are elected. Student members shall serve one-year terms. If, for any reason, a student member cannot complete his or her term, attend a particular hearing or vote on a particular question (for example, whether to decline jurisdiction over a matter), the alternate shall complete such term, attend the hearing or vote, as the circumstances may require.
    2. Three of the members shall be law faculty members appointed by the dean of the Law School with the advice of the faculty executive committee. The dean also shall appoint an alternate faculty member. The dean shall not appoint an assistant or senior associate dean or himself or herself to the council. Faculty members shall serve three-year staggered terms, so that no two faculty members will have the same number of years remaining in their terms of appointment. If, for any reason, a faculty member cannot complete his or her term, attend a particular hearing or vote on a particular question (for example, whether to decline jurisdiction over a matter), the alternate shall complete the unexpired term, attend the hearing or vote, as the circumstances require.
    3. The faculty member who is serving in the last year of his or her term on the council shall be the chair. The chair’s term shall be for one year. If, at any time, the chair is unavailable to perform chair duties, the faculty member on the council with the next longest tenure shall act as the chair.
  2. The council shall have jurisdiction over any student conduct that is prohibited by this code. A student’s conduct is not subject to this code unless it has occurred while the student is enrolled at or was seeking admission to the Law School. For good cause, the council may decline or postpone asserting jurisdiction over the conduct of a student. For example, any of the following may constitute good cause for declining or postponing jurisdiction: 1) the fact that such conduct is being or has been handled by federal, state or local authorities, 2) the conduct is only a de minimis violation of this code, 3) the conduct in question is not sufficiently related to Law School matters, or 4) assuming the allegation to be true, the conduct does not evidence a lack of honesty, integrity or trustworthiness on the part of the student.

Section III. Limitations

The council may not exercise jurisdiction over student conduct unless a complaint is filed within one year of graduation, withdrawal or dismissal of the student from the Law School; however, this limitation shall not apply to conduct involving either serious academic misconduct, such as plagiarism or cheating, or serious misrepresentation with respect to the student’s application for enrollment in the Law School.

Section IV. Standards of Conduct

  1. Prohibited Conduct: Generally

    The following student conduct shall constitute a violation of the code:
     
    1. Any conduct pertaining to academic or other University matters that evidences fraud, deceit, dishonesty or an intent to obtain unfair advantage over other students or that interferes unreasonably with the rights of other students, and
    2. Any conduct that violates University regulations not inconsistent with this code, and
    3. Any criminal act that raises serious doubts about the accused student’s honesty, integrity or fitness to practice law.
       
  2. Prohibited Conduct: Nonexclusive Examples

    To assist students in understanding their responsibilities under the code, the following is a nonexclusive list of examples of conduct pertaining to academic or other University matters that violate this code:
     
    1. A student shall not commit plagiarism. Plagiarism is appropriating another’s words, ideas or modes of analysis and representing them in writing as one’s own. Whenever a student submits written work as his or her own, the student shall not use the words of another verbatim without presenting them as quoted material and citing the source. If the words of another are paraphrased, there must be a clear attribution of the source. If the student uses another’s ideas, concepts or modes of analysis, there must be a clear accompanying attribution of the source.
    2. A student shall not invade the security maintained for the preparation and storage of examinations. If a student learns that the security maintained for the preparation and storage of examinations has been compromised, he or she shall notify the instructor immediately.
    3. A student shall not take an examination for another nor permit another to take an examination for him or her.
    4. While taking an examination, a student shall neither possess nor refer to any material (such as books, notebooks, outlines, papers or notes) not authorized by the instructor for use during the examination.
    5. A student shall follow all instructions concerning the administration of examinations.
    6. In connection with an examination or an academic assignment, a student shall neither give, receive nor obtain information or help in any form not authorized by the instructor or the person administering the examination or assignment.
    7. A student who is taking or has taken an examination shall not discuss any part of that examination with another student who is taking the examination or will be taking a deferred examination or with anyone else when such discussion is likely to endanger the security of the examination questions.
    8. While taking an examination, a student shall neither converse nor communicate with any person other than the person(s) administering the examination, except as permitted by the administrator(s) of the examination.
    9. A student shall not submit to any instructor or Law School organization any written work (or part thereof) prepared, submitted or used by him or her for any other purpose (such as, by way of example, work prepared for or submitted in another course or work prepared for a law journal, clinic, law firm, government agency or other organization) or prepared by another, except upon specific disclosure of the facts and receipt of permission from the instructor or organization to whom the work is submitted.
    10. A student shall not take or copy material (such as personal items, books, notebooks, outlines, papers or notes) belonging to another student without the consent of the latter.
    11. A student shall not make a false statement to a Law School instructor, administrator or organization or to the honor council or an investigating committee.
    12. A person shall not refuse to cooperate with the honor council or an investigating committee constituted under this code, except that a student who is being investigated or who is charged shall not be obliged to provide oral or written testimony without a grant of use or transactional immunity.
    13. Unless authorized by this code or required by law or court order, no member of the Law School faculty, administration, honor council or an investigating committee shall disclose information concerning the identity of the accused, the accuser, or witnesses without the express permission of the council or committee. Students who are questioned by a member of the faculty, administration, honor council or investigating committee about a suspected code violation by another student shall not disclose to anyone else information concerning the identity of the accused, the accuser, or witnesses learned during the questioning without the express permission of the council or committee.
    14. With respect to the Law School library or other University library, a student shall not: (a) mark, tear, mutilate or destroy library material, (b) hide, misshelve or misfile library material, (c) remove library material from the library without complying with library regulations or (d) otherwise fail to comply with library regulations.
    15. A student violates this code by conspiring, soliciting, attempting or agreeing to commit, assist or facilitate the commission of any violation of this code.
    16. A student shall comply with any requirement imposed upon him or her by the honor council as a sanction under this code.
    17. A student shall not engage in any act that materially disrupts a class, meeting or other function of the Law School so as to interfere unreasonably with the rights of other students in the pursuit of their education.
    18. Purposefully engaging in racial, ethnic, religious or sexual harassment of a student interferes with the rights of that student; accordingly, such conduct violates this code.
    19. A student shall not knowingly make a false allegation of a violation of this code.
    20. A student shall not use computer information systems for non-Law School related activities (such as employment outside of the Law School) without authorization or for assignments, projects or coursework in which use of such systems is prohibited.
       
  3. Before a student may be found to have violated this code, there must be clear and convincing evidence that the accused committed the act or acts constituting the violation and that the accused did so purposefully, knowingly, recklessly or negligently.
     
  4. Extenuating circumstances or good motives (such as, by way of example, pressure from school or outside work, family obligations or to help a friend) are no defense to a violation of the code but may be relevant to the determination of sanction.
     
  5. It is not a defense to charges of violating this code for a student to claim he or she has not received, read or understood this code or is otherwise ignorant of its provisions. A student is held to have notice of this code by enrolling in the Law School. (See Section II C4 in the Student Code.)

Section V. Sanctions

  1. Sanctions for violations of this code may include but are not limited to one or more of the following:
    1. Public or private admonition, warning, reprimand or censure.
    2. Counseling.
    3. Additional academic work.
    4. A requirement that a student take extra credit hours.
    5. Public or University service.
    6. Suspension or loss of specific Law School benefits, privileges, memberships and/or honors, including financial aid and scholarships.
    7. Fines.
    8. Compensation for or replacement of any damaged or destroyed property.
    9. Recording of findings in the student’s Law School file for any length of time.
    10. Probation, with or without conditions.
    11. Suspension for a period not longer than two years.
    12. Expulsion.
    13. Recommendation of a lowered grade.
    14. Recommendation to the board of trustees that an awarded degree be withdrawn.
    15. Request to the dean that he or she take other appropriate action.
  2. The honor council has no authority to determine or change a student’s grade based upon the student’s conduct in connection with a course or other graded academic activity.
  3. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any official student organization may suspend, expel (with or without retroactive effect) or terminate any membership or honors accorded a member found to have violated this code.

Section VI. Responsibilities of Faculty and Administration

  1. By the second meeting of a course, each instructor shall identify with precision the materials (if any) that the students may use during the instructor’s examination and shall describe the condition (for example, annotated or unannotated) in which those materials may be used. However, if an instructor does not identify the materials usable during the final examination and their condition, students must assume that the examination in that course is “closed book,” that is that no materials will be permitted to be used by students during the final examination. In order to eliminate ambiguity or uncertainty, the instructor shall answer any student question concerning those materials and shall communicate that same information to all students in the course.
  2. Each instructor shall include the instructions described in paragraph A in the written instructions accompanying the examination.
  3. Each instructor shall exercise caution in preparing, administering and discussing an examination to ensure that no student receives an unfair advantage.
  4. Each instructor and member of the Law School staff shall report to the assistant dean for student affairs any student conduct that is reasonably believed to constitute a violation of this code.
  5. It is the responsibility of the dean, or his or her delegate, to supervise the imposition of any sanction directed by the council or modified by any appeal.

Section VII. Report of an Alleged Violation

  1. If a person wishes to initiate a disciplinary proceeding against a student for violating this code, the person must report the matter to the assistant dean for student affairs. The report of the suspected code violation may be either written or oral. Such report may not be made anonymously; however, confidentiality relating to the identity of the accuser shall be maintained, subject to the provisions of Section VIII C, E and Section IX B, K, L and M. If the assistant dean is not available to receive the report, then the suspected violation must be reported to the senior associate dean for academic affairs or to the instructor, if any, whose course is affected by the conduct. An anonymous report will not be sufficient to initiate an investigatory or disciplinary proceeding under this code.
  2. If the report of the suspected violation is made orally, the person who initiated the report must submit a brief written report of the facts surrounding the suspected violation to the assistant dean, who shall in turn deliver the written report to the chair of the honor council or the investigating committee, if one has been constituted.
  3. The assistant dean for student affairs, upon receiving a report and after consultation with the chair of the council, may determine that no violation of the code has occurred even if the allegation is assumed to be true.

Section VIII. Investigation of Violations

  1. Upon receipt of a report of a suspected code violation, the assistant dean for student affairs, the senior associate dean for academic affairs or instructor shall promptly notify the chair of the honor council of the allegations contained in the report, including the names of the accused student(s) and the person(s) making the allegation. Upon receiving this report, the chair shall promptly inform the members of the council of the substance of the report and the identity of the members of the Law School community allegedly involved in the incident.
  2. A meeting to determine whether to decline or postpone asserting jurisdiction shall be held if requested by at least two members of the council. The council may not decline or postpone taking jurisdiction of a matter unless at least four members of the council and/or their alternates if any members are not available vote to decline or postpone taking jurisdiction.
  3. If the council elects to decline or postpone asserting jurisdiction, the council shall submit a written report to the dean giving its reasons. The council may publish its decision, but in doing so, no information identifying the accused or the accuser shall be revealed. The council’s election not to take jurisdiction of a matter for any reason shall not prevent the dean from taking whatever administrative action against the student he or she deems appropriate. This report may include a recommendation that the dean take administrative action against the student or consider the incident when deciding whether to recommend the student for the award of a degree or other purpose. Whenever the council’s report includes a recommendation of action by the dean against the student, a copy of the report shall be sent to the student.
  4. If the council does not decline or postpone asserting jurisdiction over the matter, the chair shall promptly notify the assistant dean for student affairs of that fact and whether it recommends that the matter be resolved through nonbinding summary disposition as set forth in the Section XIV of this code.
    1. Upon the assistant dean’s receipt of notice that summary disposition is recommended, the matter shall proceed as set forth in Section XIV below.
    2. Upon receipt of such notice that the council does not decline or postpone asserting jurisdiction over the matter, or that the council does not recommend the matter for summary disposition, the assistant dean for student affairs shall promptly notify the accused student of the allegation and that an investigation will begin and shall furnish the student with a copy of this code. Where a report of a suspected code violation accusing a currently enrolled student is received by the council at a time when it appears that the investigation and hearing before the council, if any, could not be completed at least two weeks before the end of classes, the chair of the council may direct the assistant dean to postpone notification until after the accused student has completed his or her examinations.
  5. The assistant dean shall notify the accused student that an investigation is to be initiated and shall also notify the dean, but such notice to the dean shall not disclose the identity of the accused, the accuser, or the nature of the alleged violation. The dean shall promptly appoint an investigating committee consisting of two faculty members and one student. The associate and assistant deans and members of the council shall not be appointed to the investigating committee.
  6. Duties of the Investigating Committee
    1. Except for good cause shown, the investigating committee shall complete its investigation of the alleged violation within 30 days of its formation.
    2. The committee shall have the power to question persons having pertinent information, examine any pertinent material and question an accused student if he or she is willing to speak. If the committee questions a student whom the committee reasonably believes has committed a code violation, it shall advise the student: (a) of his or her right not to speak, (b) that what the student says can be used against the student, (c) that the student has the right to consult an attorney or other representative before answering any questions and (d) that the student has the right to have that representative present during the questioning. At the request of the investigating committee, the chair of the honor council shall have the authority to subpoena Law School instructors, staff and students to appear as witnesses before the investigating committee or the council and to grant use or transactional immunity to a witness or to an accused student if he or she is not willing to speak to the committee.
    3. Upon completion of its investigation, the investigating committee shall determine whether probable cause exists to believe that a student has violated this code. A finding of probable cause must be supported by at least two members of the committee. The committee shall promptly report its determination, whether affirmative or negative, to the chair of the honor council, to the accused student and to the person(s) who reported the alleged violation of the code. A complaint issued by the committee shall be sent to the chair of the honor council.
    4. If the investigating committee determines that a complaint shall be filed, the committee shall also give to the accused student the following information in writing:
      1. A copy of the complaint, which shall be a plain, concise and definite written statement of the essential facts of the violation(s) charged, citing the specific provision(s) of this code that the accused student is alleged to have violated.
      2. The identity of known witnesses, a general description of what each is expected to testify about, their written statements, if any, and either copies or a description of any physical evidence that may be used at the hearing; all written reports concerning the alleged violation, if any, submitted to the assistant dean for student affairs or other member of the staff, faculty or administration.
      3. The names of the honor council members.
      4. A statement that the student may be assisted by an attorney or other adviser of the student’s choice. (See Section IX A in the Student Code.)
      5. A statement that the student has a right to review any information gathered by the investigating committee during the investigation, other than the work product of the investigating committee.
    5. The investigating committee shall not enter into any agreement with the accused student whereby the committee agrees not to bring before the honor council any violations for which probable cause has been found or which commits the honor council to any finding or sanction. The committee must present all such violations to the council for a hearing by filing a complaint as provided by this code. The accused may admit guilt by testifying on the record before the council that he or she committed the alleged act(s) and by waiving a hearing before the council on the question of guilt. Upon receiving such an admission of guilt, the council shall proceed by hearing to determine the appropriate sanction.
    6. The investigating committee shall appoint one of its members to act as school prosecutor in presenting the evidence against the accused student during the hearing and any appeal.
    7. Notwithstanding that the investigating committee has issued a complaint, it shall be the duty of the school prosecutor to continue to gather other evidence relevant to the determination of guilt or innocence of the accused and to present it to the council at the hearing on the complaint. Any such evidence shall be disclosed to the accused student as soon as possible after it has been obtained.

Section IX. Hearing

  1. Upon receiving a complaint from the investigating committee, the chair of the council shall convene a hearing before the honor council. Before and during the hearing, and through any appeals within the University, the accused student shall be entitled to representation by or assistance from a retained attorney or anyone else who is the student’s choice and who agrees to represent or assist the student. If the student wishes to be represented by an attorney and is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the assistant dean for student affairs that he or she is financially unable to retain an attorney, the assistant dean shall arrange for a law faculty member or other attorney to represent the student without cost. It is the sense of the Law School community that the law faculty should provide pro bono representation to such accused students.
  2. The hearing shall be attended by the council, school prosecutor, the remaining members of the investigating committee (if they so desire), the accused student and the student’s representative, if any. Witnesses may also attend unless exclusion is requested by any party. This section is subject to the following provisions:
    1. The council may proceed with no fewer than two faculty and two student members present.
    2. No later than one day before the hearing, the accused student may request that the chair allow other people to attend; if the chair grants that request, the chair may also open the hearing to people other than those requested by the accused student.
    3. A request to open the hearing shall not preclude the council, by majority vote of those present, from closing the hearing during the testimony of any witness who may be extraordinarily embarrassed by public testimony.
  3. The chair shall rule on all motions and objections and may be overruled only by a majority of the council present.
  4. The council may consider only evidence made part of the record at the hearing. It shall not be bound by rules of evidence. All relevant evidence shall be admissible if it is not manifestly unreliable. Hearsay evidence may be admissible, but it shall be accorded only such weight as it is entitled under the circumstances. Proof of conviction of a crime shall be prima facie evidence that the person committed the offense of which he or she was convicted and of any facts necessary for that finding of guilt. The council, by majority vote, may grant use or transactional immunity to any witness. The council may subpoena any Law School instructor, staff or student to appear as a witness.
  5. Normally, the council shall hear evidence regarding the question of guilt before hearing evidence regarding sanctions. The school prosecutor shall initiate the presentation of evidence. The accused student (or his or her defense counsel) may then offer evidence relevant to the charge(s). After the presentation of evidence regarding guilt, the council shall meet in camera to decide the question of guilt. Upon reaching a decision, it shall reconvene before the parties and announce its decision. If it finds the accused guilty, it shall then give the parties the opportunity to present evidence, if any, relevant to sanctions. At that time, the student shall have the option either to proceed first or to follow the prosecutor. The prosecutor shall present all aggravating and mitigating evidence in his or her possession and may recommend particular sanctions. After hearing this evidence, the council shall again meet in camera to decide the question of sanctions. Upon reaching a decision, the council shall reconvene before the parties and impose sanctions, if any.
  6. The council, the school prosecutor and the student (or his or her defense counsel) may question any witness. However, the accused student shall not be required to testify, and no adverse inferences shall be drawn from the accused student’s decision not to testify.
  7. The school prosecutor and the accused student (or defense counsel) may make opening and concluding statements. However, an accused student who has chosen not to testify may not make a statement to the council unless the student allows questions from council members and the school prosecutor.
  8. The hearing shall be recorded by means of stenographic or audio or videotape recording.
  9. The council may not find the accused student guilty of any code violation not charged in the complaint. After the hearing begins, the complaint may be amended over the accused’s objection, provided the accused is not thereby prejudiced in his or her defense. A continuance of the hearing may be granted to avoid such prejudice. The school prosecutor shall bear the burden of proving the alleged violation(s) by clear and convincing evidence. A 2/3 vote of the council members present shall be necessary for a finding of guilt and the imposition of any sanction, except that expulsion or a recommendation that an awarded degree be withdrawn shall each require unanimity.
  10. After the hearing is concluded, the chair or the council shall prepare a written report detailing the evidence considered, the reasons for its decision and any sanction(s) imposed. Concurring and dissenting members may prepare reports explaining their positions. Copies of the reports shall be given to the accused and to the dean.
  11. At the conclusion of a case, including an appeal, if any, the council shall publish the results of its decision (as amended by any appeal). The council may publish the decision in any way it considers appropriate. Factors it might consider include, by way of examples, the relevancy of publicity as to the sanction or the informational value of the decision to the Law School community. In publicizing its decision, the council shall not publish the name of any participant, except that in exceptional circumstances the council may reveal the name of the student found guilty of the violation(s). Beginning with the effective date of this code, all published decisions shall be maintained on reserve in the library.
  12. Regardless of the decision on the merits, the council shall keep a permanent record of the evidence presented at the hearing, the report(s) and the opinion(s) of the council, if any, and any other information it decides should be retained. Such record may be referred to later by the council for whatever purpose it considers relevant, but the council shall not reveal the names of the accuser or the witnesses. At any time after three years from the conclusion of an appeal, the council may destroy any record of the matter other than its written report(s) and the opinion(s) of the dean, if any. When no complaint is filed because the allegation is deemed without merit, the conduct is de minimis or the evidence is deemed insufficient, the council shall nevertheless keep a record of the allegation, the reason(s) for nonaction, the name of the student whose conduct was under investigation and the names of the accuser and/or the witness(es) for three years, after which time such record shall be destroyed. Subject to paragraph K, neither the contents nor the existence of any record referred to in this paragraph may be disclosed except 1) when required by law or order of court, 2) when required by the dean or 3) when the concerned student has signed a written waiver of confidentiality.
  13. At the end of each chair’s tenure, the chair shall transfer all case files to the dean’s office, and the dean shall transfer them to the next chair. Such transfers shall be made without breach of the confidentiality of the files.

Section X. Appeal of Adjudications of Academic Dishonesty

  1. A student who is adjudged guilty by the honor council of a violation of this code concerning a matter of academic dishonesty, an attempt to gain an unfair advantage over other law students or an unreasonable interference with the rights of other students may appeal such finding or any sanction imposed to the dean of the Law School. A student who admits the truth of the complaint may challenge the council’s jurisdiction and the sanction on appeal. Normally, the filing of a notice of appeal shall automatically stay the execution of all sanctions imposed by the council on the student filing the notice; however, the dean shall have authority to order that some or all of the sanction(s) be executed during the pendency of the appeal. Notwithstanding any further appeal by the student to the president of the University, all unexecuted sanctions upheld by the dean shall be executed following the dean’s determination of the appeal.
  2. Notice of intent to appeal must be given to the dean and the chair of the council. The notice of appeal shall be in writing and shall contain the reasons for the appeal. Upon receipt of the notice of appeal, the chair shall transmit its response(s) and the record of the hearing to the dean.
  3. If, following the council’s decision, the student discovers new information relevant to the merits or the sanction, the student may ask the council to reconsider its decision or may ask the dean to consider such new information along with the record of the hearing. The dean may remand to the council for consideration of the new information. If the student discovers new information after the dean has decided the appeal, the student may ask the dean to reconsider his or her decision. If the dean decides not to change that decision, he or she shall give the reason(s) for not doing so to the student in writing. The student may then appeal the dean’s decision to the president of the University.
  4. Normally, the dean’s appellate review will be based on the record of the hearing and any written submissions. However, the dean may choose to hear oral argument by the student or by the defense counsel and by the school prosecutor.
  5. The dean may affirm, reverse, remand or modify the decision of the council, or the dean may dismiss the complaint. If the dean concludes that the decision of the council is factually correct and that its sanction is appropriate, the dean shall affirm. The dean may dismiss the complaint only if he or she concludes that the council lacked jurisdiction or that its determination was not supported by the greater weight of the evidence. The dean may reduce the sanction if he or she believes that the sanction is inappropriate but may not increase the sanction. If the matter is remanded, the council shall reconvene to reconsider the case.
  6. The dean shall prepare an opinion explaining the reasons for the decision. A copy of that opinion shall be given to the student and to the council, and the council shall keep a copy as part of its permanent record. Except as to sanctions, the decision of the dean with respect to the student’s guilt or innocence shall be final.
  7. After the dean’s decision, the student may ask the president of the University to modify the sanction(s), but not the finding of guilt. The president may consider any information he or she considers pertinent, including the report(s) of the council and the opinion(s) of the dean. The president may not increase the sanction.

Section XI. Appeal of Adjudications of Nonacademic Violations

A student who is adjudged guilty by the honor council of conduct that does not involve academic misconduct, an attempt to gain unfair academic advantage over other law students or an unreasonable interference with the rights of other students may appeal the determination of the council to the University Judicial Council according to the University procedures for the appeal of Level II hearing boards. (See the University publication SMU Policies for Community Life.)

Section XII. Notification

Whenever this code requires notification and does not otherwise specify the manner by which such notification shall be accomplished, the following methods are proper:

  1. Verbal notification, either in person or by telephone, with written confirmation sent by regular mail or
  2. Written notification sent by email to the recipient’s Law School email address or to the last non-Law School email address provided to the Law School by the recipient or by registered or certified mail to the last local address provided to the Law School by the recipient or, if the Law School is not in session, to the last home address provided to the Law School by the recipient.

Section XIII. Timeliness of Proceedings

  1. All actions taken pursuant to duties imposed by this code shall be accomplished in a timely manner. The specific time guidelines are the following:
    1. The assistant dean for student affairs shall bring a report of a suspected code violation to the attention of the chair of the council within four days of receiving it.
    2. The chair of the council shall bring the substance of a report of a suspected violation to the attention of the council within four days of receiving notice from the assistant dean.
    3. The honor council shall determine whether to assert, decline or postpone taking jurisdiction of a reported matter within seven days of the receipt by the chair of the reported violation.
    4. The council’s determination to decline or postpone asserting jurisdiction shall be reported to the dean in writing within 14 days of the determination.
    5. The council’s determination to assert jurisdiction, if such a determination is made, or the chair’s determination to initiate an investigation of a reported code violation shall be reported to the office of the assistant dean for student affairs and to the accused student within four days of the determination.
    6. The dean of the Law School shall appoint an investigating committee within 14 days of the receipt by the assistant dean for student affairs of a report of a suspected code violation from the council chair.
    7. The investigating committee shall reach a determination regarding the reported code violation within 30 days of its appointment.
    8. The investigating committee shall report its determination of whether to file a complaint to the chair of the honor council, to the accused student and to the person or persons initiating the report of the suspected violation within four days of reaching its determination.
    9. The investigating committee shall give to the accused student the information specified in Section VIII F4, a–f of the Student Code, within seven days of the notification to the student that a complaint will issue.
    10. The honor council shall convene to hear a complaint within 21 days of receipt of the complaint by the chair.
    11. The chair’s written report of the council’s determination(s) and its summary of the evidence shall be submitted to the dean within seven days of the termination of the hearing.
    12. A student’s written notice of an intent to appeal an honor council determination must be received by the dean’s office within seven days of that determination.
    13. Except for the notice of appeal, deadlines for written submissions to the dean from any party relating to a matter on appeal will be set by the dean.
    14. The dean shall decide the appeal within 30 days of the date the dean’s office receives the notification of an intent to appeal.
    15. A student’s written appeal of a sanction shall be submitted to the office of the president of the University within 14 days of the student’s receipt of the dean’s determination.
    16. This code imposes no period of time within which the president of the University must decide an appeal.
  2. In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by this code, the day of the act or event from which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included.
  3. The accused may waive time periods imposed by this code on others. Noncooperation by the accused is a basis for the suspension of time requirements imposed by the code. The honor council, by majority vote, and the dean shall have the authority to extend time limits imposed upon the accused.
  4. Failure by Law School personnel to abide by the time requirements of this code without the accused’s consent may be grounds for dismissal of the complaint or mitigation of sanctions only if a substantial delay has been caused and the accused has suffered prejudice thereby.

Section XIV. Nonbinding Summary Disposition

  1. Upon receiving notice that the council recommends the matter for summary disposition, the assistant dean for student affairs shall promptly notify the accused student of the allegation and the council’s recommendation and shall furnish the student with a copy of this code. Notification by the assistant dean shall also include the following information:
    1. The matter may proceed in accordance with this Section XIV only upon the written consent of the accused student and the reporting party.
    2. The student may be assisted by an attorney or other representative in the process.
    3. The consent of any party participating in summary disposition may be revoked at any time prior to the delivery to the dean of the report prepared by the Honor Council chair as described in Paragraph F of this Section XIV.
  2. The assistant dean shall also promptly notify the reporting party of the council’s recommendation that the matter proceed in accordance with Section XIV and that it may do so only upon the consent of the accused student and the reporting party.
  3. Within 5 days of receiving notice from the assistant dean in accordance with Paragraphs A and B of this Section, the reporting party and the student shall notify, in writing, the assistant dean of their decision to consent or not to consent to proceeding with summary disposition. The assistant dean shall promptly inform the chair of the Honor Council of the parties’ decisions.
  4. If either of the parties notify the assistant dean that they do not consent to summary disposition, the assistant dean shall promptly inform the chair of the Honor Council of that fact and the matter shall proceed as otherwise provided under the code with the appointment of an investigating committee.
  5. Upon receiving the parties’ written consent to summary disposition, the assistant dean in consultation with the chair of the Honor Council shall inform the parties of a recommended sanction. If the parties reach an agreement regarding a proposed sanction, they shall provide written notification of their agreement and its substance to the assistant dean who shall immediately notify the chair of the Honor Council of the agreement. If the parties are unable to reach an agreement regarding a proposed sanction within 5 days, they shall notify the assistant dean and may obtain an additional 5 days to reach an agreement, with the approval of the chair of the Honor Council. If they are unable to reach an agreement within 10 days after receiving the notice of proposed sanctions, they must provide written notice to the chair of the Honor Council, and the matter shall promptly proceed as otherwise provided under the code with the appointing of an Investigating Committee.
  6. Upon receiving notice that the parties reached an agreement regarding a summary disposition, the chair of the Honor Council shall prepare a written report adopting the parties’ agreement, detailing the reported violation and the nature of the summary disposition, including a description of any sanctions agreed upon and imposed. The chair shall provide copies of the report to the student and to the dean. The council shall publish its report and maintain a record of it in accordance with Section IX. K. and Section IX. L. of this code.

Submitted by a joint student-faculty committee
Approved by referendum of students of the School of Law April 19, 1990
Adopted by the faculty of the School of Law May 15, 1990
Revised May 4, 2015