In the shortest Student Government Senate meeting of the summer, Senators approved judiciary appointments and passed resolutions before 9 p.m.
"My bedtime is 10 p.m., so I'd like to finish early," Parliamentarian Taylor Siegel said at the beginning of Tuesday's meeting in an effort to study and rest before his and Senate President Audrey Goldman's upcoming LSATs.
The meeting quickly progressed to the Supreme Court appointments of Michael Patrone and Michael Brevda, who were nominated by SG President Jordan Johnson.
Sen. Ashton Charles, the judiciary chair who reviewed the nominations, said that both Patrone and Brevda demonstrated their abilities to act in a nonpartisan manner.
Patrone was present at the meeting and answered questions from various senators.
"My own personal beliefs need to be irrelevant when I'm in the court evaluating issues," Patrone said.
Job commitments in Orlando prevented Brevda from attending Tuesday's meeting, but he answered questions through a phone interview on speakerphone so all senators could hear.
Brevda highlighted his past work for Republican Congressman Ric Keller to demonstrate his nonpartisanship. Despite Brevda's Democratic affiliation, he worked for Keller and said he was asked to continue working full time.
The Senate approved both Patrone and Brevda.
In a press release, Sen. Nick Mildebrath of the Progress Party noted that Brevda was approved unanimously, "a rarity for any court nominee at UF."
Though Patrone's approval was not unanimous, Mildebrath said the Progress Party was "extremely heartened to see that both parties allowed a free, open and civil debate."
Tuesday's meeting also marked the passing of two resolutions. The first congratulated Florida Alternative Breaks, an organization that focuses on social issues like HIV/AIDS and animal refuge through student trips, for being named the National Alternative Break Program for 2009.
The second resolution honored UF students who died last semester. Copies of the resolution will be sent to families of lost students, Charles said.
Johnson was not present, but Press Secretary Eric Conrad attended on his behalf.
Conrad said Johnson is trying to attain parking spaces for students in the Southwest Parking Garage Complex, slated for completion in September.
"We're hopeful, but we're not completely sure because of how distant this garage is how many spots we're actually going to get," Conrad said.
