A-to-Z Index

Judicial Council Witnesses



Please note that the content available in this section is also available in our Judicial Council Process Handout (PDF), a guide given to students going through the council process.

Click here to view a mock council hearing.


Witnesses For  Accused Students

The student has the right to have witnesses to present information in his or her defense.

The Office of Judicial Affairs has the authority to limit the number of witnesses in order to avoid unreasonable delays where the information provided would be repetitious or unnecessary.

For more information on being a witness for an accused student, please refer to our "Witness For Information" handout.

What a Witness Should Expect in the Council Hearing

Witnesses for the accused student will be asked to give a statement of the evidence they are presenting the hearing board. The accused student and judicial council will have an opportunity to ask questions. Any witness for the accused student that is not able to appear in person at the hearing may submit a written statement as evidence. The accused student should provide written statements to the Judicial Council Coordinator 48 hours prior to the hearing or bring 7 copies with him/her to the hearing.

**The accused student should not attempt to contact witness(es) scheduled to appear against them at the hearing. The accused student's witnesses and/or friends should also not attempt to contact the witnesses. If the accused student or friends/witnesses for the accused do attempt to contact witnesses against, then the accused student and/or witnesses may be charged with Interference with the Judicial or Honor Council Process. *


Witnesses Against the Accused Student

The witnesses against the student will be contacted and informed of the council hearing by the Office of Judicial Affairs. The accused student has the right to question all witnesses who testify at the hearing and/or challenge all written statements presented at the hearing. The Judicial Council will also question any witnesses against.

Click here to view a mock council hearing.

An accusing student of an alleged incident has the following right:

  1. The right to request a support person or attorney to be present with you in the judicial council process. (Note: The same guidelines will be given to the support person or attorney as stated in #7 of the Accused Student Rights.)

For more information on being a witness against an accused student, please reference the following handouts:

Residence Life Witnesses

JMU Faculty / Staff / Student Witnesses
Police Witnesses

**The accused student should not attempt to contact witness(es) scheduled to appear against them at the hearing. The accused student's witnesses and/or friends should also not attempt to contact the witnesses. If the accused student or friends/witnesses for the accused do attempt to contact witnesses against, then the accused student and/or witnesses may be charged with Interference with the Judicial or Honor Council Process.  If, as a witness against, someone does attempt to contact you, please contact Wendy Young, the Associate Director immediately. *