Back on schedule: Backlog reduced Honor Court can now better serve

The Honor Code once called for punishment for students stealing their professors' horses dueling and not attending church.

In recent years it operated with a protocol that resulted in 100 backlogged cases from the summer months and previous semesters that had to be prosecuted in the fall.

But this year Honor Court is getting its act together. Not only is the backlog reduced but the court also is actually ahead of pace.

It's hearing a similar number of cases but in less time. We appreciate this newfound efficiency.

Students who are found not guilty deserve to have their integrity restored in a reasonable amount of time. A month has been a good goal in the past.

Guilty students deserve the same level of efficiency in getting their cases resolved.

And it's become apparent that the pace is improving.

Honor Court's summer efforts decreased backlog at the beginning of this semester. They maintained contact with parties involved in unfinished cases from the end of last semester and scheduled tentative court dates.

These measures reduced the makeup work needed at the beginning of this semester.

Jonathan Sauls assistant dean of students and judicial programs officer said" ""A quick decision is not always a good decision.""

We agree. But taking too long to deliver justice is an injustice itself. That's why we applaud the Honor Court in its attempt to hear cases in a timely manner.

And now that the court has finished past cases and begun tackling those from this semester" it seems like it is on track.

We know Honor Court decisions have been highly contested before. The way in which it delivers justice has been controversial in certain cases.

But a basic level of efficiency is a central responsibility of the court. And we're pleased to see it on the rise.