You've already been through the University of Cincinnati's judicial process, so we don't need to tell you—campus cases can be complex. That is equally true for filing an appeal. If you've lost your case and are facing a serious sanction, like suspension or dismissal, you do have the right to file an appeal. Successful appeals, though, are often delicate procedures, and you never want to undertake one on your own.
The University of Cincinnati gives you the right to consult with an attorney as part of your case. Make the most of this right. Hire the very best firm you can, someone who's not only skilled at litigation but who is experienced in handling campus defenses. No one gives you a better chance at success than the lawyers who work for the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. We know what the law has to say about students, but more importantly, we know how the University of Cincinnati operates. Let us help you challenge your Responsible verdict.
Don't wait, though. From the moment you're notified of the hearing outcome, you have just five days to file your appeal. That's not a lot of time to prepare your case. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686, or use our online questionnaire to tell us more about your situation.
The Appeals Process at the University of Cincinnati
We can sketch out the appeals process at the University of Cincinnati in a sentence or two. It's a matter of explaining your arguments in a document and submitting this document to the Director of the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
For all the simplicity of the process, though, an appeal is a major undertaking that requires no less than a complete shift in your thinking about your case.
- Rightly or wrongly, you lost your hearing. In simple terms, you are now “Responsible” for an offense. That comes with some big changes. First and foremost, you no longer have the presumption of innocence.
- As a corollary, the burden in the case has shifted as well. The university bore the original burden of proving to a “preponderance of the evidence” that you committed an offense. You probably offered some evidence of your innocence, but you didn't have to. You were presumed innocent until you were determined guilty. Now you “are” guilty. In an appeal, you're trying to prove the university treated you unfairly in some way. The university has the presumption of innocence, and you bear the burden of proving to a “preponderance of evidence” that it mistreated you.
- “Mistreatment” does not mean simply a verdict you don't like. You are not re-arguing your case. That's crucial to remember. You are looking for “grounds” for your appeal—reasons you didn't get a fair chance to make your case. There are just three options.
- A procedural error occurred significant enough to have interfered with your defense.
- Some new evidence has arisen that could potentially have altered the hearing outcome.
- The university has imposed a sanction that is disproportionate to the nature of the offense.
- There are no hearings in appeals cases. Instead, appointed decision-makers meet administratively and render their decision. This means you won't have an opportunity to address decision-makers in person. Nor will you have a chance to call witnesses or to make closing statements. Your written arguments must do the talking for you. They must be clear, and they must be compelling.
- Your evidence is drawn exclusively from your original hearing. Remember: You are not arguing your innocence. You are arguing that some unfairness occurred. The exception is if you have newly discovered evidence to present. Here, though, you aren't presenting that evidence as proof of your innocence but rather as proof that you deserve a new hearing, that you were denied a chance to present all the facts.
- A new hearing is the best possible outcome. Decision-makers cannot overturn your Responsible verdict. They can lessen the sanction or order a new hearing. Otherwise, they will affirm the original decision in your case.
When you contact the Lento Law Firm, an attorney will sit down with you and go over your entire case, paying particular attention to the record of your original hearing. If there are grounds for your appeal, they'll find them. Once they've identified your strongest arguments, they'll draft the appeal on your behalf and submit it to the Vice President's office.
Maybe their most important role, though? Monitoring what happens to make sure you are treated fairly by the appeals process. After all, you were mistreated before.
What's at Stake
An appeal is a serious undertaking, and there's no denying that you face an uphill battle. You no longer have many of the rights you began your case with.
It's important to remember, though, that you can win your case at this level. In fact, a high percentage of campus appeals are successful. The reason is simple: colleges and universities make mistakes when it comes to administering justice. You weren't prosecuted by some seasoned law school grad. Your case wasn't heard by a learned judge with years of experience on the bench. You faced faculty, administrators, and students. It would be surprising if something hadn't gone wrong. An appeal is a chance to set things right, and sometimes, it is the first time in the case that you've had a chance at a fair reading of the circumstances and evidence.
The University of Cincinnati recognizes just what's at stake for you. If you're facing dismissal, you won't just lose your spot at the university. With a dismissal on your record, you'll find it difficult, if not impossible, to enroll at another institution. Your chance at a college degree of any kind is on the line. The situation isn't much better if you're facing suspension. Your financial aid could be in jeopardy, which might make it hard to finish your degree. Plus, you, too, will have to deal with a transcript notation about the nature of your offense.
This is why there's an appeals process in the first place. This is why you're allowed to consult with an attorney as part of that process. Take advantage of these opportunities. Hire someone from the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team, someone with a proven record of helping students defend themselves.
Fight for Your Future
Whether you're entirely innocent or you're simply looking to get fair treatment from the University of Cincinnati, you owe it to yourself to continue the fight. We're here and ready to help. We'll guide you through the entire appeals process, make sure you put forward your very strongest arguments, and guarantee the university respects your rights.
As we said in the beginning, though, you cannot afford to wait. There are deadlines for filing your appeal. Get started now. Contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
