2021
Youth Judicial
Rules
Team Presentations
All teams should consist of between five and eight members, with at two attorneys and three witnesses competing in each trial
Teams may determine the genders of their own witnesses. However, teams may not change any genders that are established in the case materials.
The Statement of Facts and any additional given stipulations may not be disputed at trial. No voir dire of witnesses that are determined to be “expert witnesses” will be allowed.
Each witness is bound by the facts in their own given witness statement. All participants agree that the witness statements are signed and sworn affidavits.
Witnesses will adhere to their written affidavits. No additional material may be included. No material changes have occurred since the giving of the sworn affidavits.
Invention of Facts:
On direct examination, the witness is limited to the facts given. If a witness testifies in contradiction of a fact in their own witness statement, the opposition must show this on cross-examination through correct use of the affidavit for impeachment.
Invention of Facts: If the attorney who is cross-examining the witness asks a question, the answer of which is not contained in the stipulated affidavit or in the direct examination, then the witness may respond to that question with any answer as long as it is not contrary to the affidavit.
If the answer by the witness is contrary to the stipulated affidavit, the cross-examination attorney may impeach the witness.
Witnesses are not permitted to use notes in testifying during trial.
Student attorneys must participated with a presentation in the trial as follows:
Each attorney must examine one witness on direct examination and one witness on cross examination The attorney giving the opening statement will not be allowed to give the closing statement
Attorneys are limited to calling only their witnesses All witnesses must be called
Objections will be permitted by the direct or cross examining attorney only Attorneys may use notes in presenting their case
Attorneys must stand in the well (see courtroom diagram) during opening and closing statements. Attorneys must stand when conducting direct and cross examinations (see courtroom diagram) Attorneys must stand during objections
A judge may interrupt an attorney’s opening or closing statement to ask questions.
Attorneys do not need to ask for "freedom of the court" before conducting an opening statement, direct examination, cross examination, or closing argument.
Bailiffs will screen share exhibits on Zoom at the request of the directing/crossing attorney
Any time an attorney would like to reference an exhibit on cross, direct, opening, or closing, the attorney must ask the bailiff to screen-share the exhibit.
In addition to the bailiff screen-sharing an exhibit that is being referenced during trial, it is recommended that each team print off a copy of the case (including affidavits and exhibits) for witnesses to utilize when exhibits are referenced during trial.
The printed case copy should be clean of any handwriting or notes.
If a team chooses to utilize paper copies of exhibits/affidavits in addition to the copy being shown on screen, the directing attorney should show opposing counsel the exhibit/affidavit so the
opposing counsel can verify that the paper is free of any notes. This should take place prior to the directing attorney handing the paper copy to the witness.
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Time Limits
The time guidelines should be used by all teams in preparing their cases. Judges will be notified of these guidelines, and will strictly hold the students to them.
Any additional questioning from the judge will not be counted as part of the allotted time during examination of witnesses and opening and closing statements.
Time will be stopped during objections.
Each judge will provide a bailiff to act as timekeeper during the trial. These persons will be responsible to notify the judges when time has expired. He/she will do so by saying once, “Time has expired”. Once time has expired, the students talking must stop whether in the middle of a question, answer, or statement. The judge may then elect to allow the student to complete a question and answer, an answer, or sentence. If a student continues to speak after being instructed to stop by the judge, the courtroom manager will put the student on “mute”.
Bailiffs will use time cards displaying unused time segments. These may be in increments of “10 min”, “5 min”, “4 min”, “3 min”, “2 min”, “1 min”, “30 sec”, “15 sec”, and “STOP”
Attorneys may inquire as to how much time they have remaining between examinations. However, attorneys are encouraged to track how much time they have used to the best of their ability.
The judge/bailiff will verbally tell each team how much time they have remaining at the conclusion of every direct examination and cross examination.
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Time Guidelines for Trial
Plaintiff Opening Statement -- 4 minutes Defense Opening Statement -- 4 minutes
Plaintiff Direct Examinations -- 18 minutes (total) Defense Cross Examinations -- 12 minutes (total) Defense Direct Examinations -- 18 minutes (total) Plaintiff Cross Examinations -- 12 minutes (total) Plaintiff Closing Argument -- 5 minutes
Defense Closing Argument -- 5 minutes
Plaintiff Rebuttal -- any remaining time left from Plaintiff closing argument
Time guidelines for the 2021 Youth Judicial conference will utilize total time for the direct examination and cross examination of witnesses. Each team may divide the given time limits between their three witnesses however they see fit.
NOTE: Redirect and recross examination will be allowed for each witness. This is optional and is subtracted from direct and cross examination time for each witness.
NOTE: The Plaintiff closing attorney will have the opportunity to present a rebuttal once the Defense has finished their closing argument. The Plaintiff may use any remaining time from their own 5 minute closing argument to present their rebuttal. The Defense closing attorney will not be able to present a rebuttal.
Trial Rules
In the event that a team member is unexpectedly unable to compete in a trial, teams may:
Find a replacement for the original team member. Replacements must be from the same team as the school, and they cannot also be competing on a different team at Youth Judicial.
Request to be moved to a different competition weekend. Requests may be denied, and your team will be notified within six hours of the request being made. This is not an option for teams who are
assigned to compete in the last weekend of district competitions, nor is it an option for the state competition.
Compete with fewer team members. Although team rosters must be composed of five people, teams will be able to compete with a minimum of FOUR team members at Youth Judicial without being penalized. In this case, teams must have two attorneys and two witnesses. If a team chooses this option to move forward:
One attorney should deliver the opening statement, two direct examinations, and one cross examination
One attorney should deliver the closing argument, one direct examination, and two cross examinations
One witness will play the role of two different witnesses
If your team is put in this position, email [email protected] IMMEDIATELY. Include the names of the team members who are no longer able to participate, as well as which option your team chooses to proceed.
Whether or not your team chooses to wear masks during trial is a decision that is to be made by your school/advisor. It is recommended that all participants wear masks when they are not actively speaking. In the case of technical difficulties during trial, time will be stopped. The team experiencing technical difficulties should message in the Zoom chat (if they are able) what kind of difficulty they are experiencing. Teams experiencing technical difficulties should email [email protected] for assistance in
solving their difficulties.
Teams are permitted to have a gallery in the back of their "courtroom". It is up to the discretion of your school/advisor whether or not parents and other acquaintances will be able to sit in the gallery.
If ANY advisor, parent, or other acquaintance chooses to sit in the gallery, they must be present in the gallery at the start of the trial and remain in the gallery the entire time. Observers will not be
permitted to leave for restroom breaks, to take calls, to leave the trial early, etc. Advisors will not be permitted to leave a trial to go observe another trial. If an observer knows that they will need to leave before the trial has concluded, they should opt to watch a live stream of the trial instead of attending in-person. If a team's observer leaves mid-trial it will be considered a rule infraction.
Password-protected live stream links will be provided to advisors. Advisors may choose to share these links with parents and other acquaintances.
Both teams will remain unmuted on Zoom during the entire trial. The judge and bailiff reserve the right to mute any team that is being disruptive during trial.
All team members must stay in the courtroom and within camera view during the entire trial.
Prior to the start of the trial, a courtroom manager (YMCA volunteer) will take time on Zoom to check to make sure all technology is functioning, that all teams have placed their cell phones in a specified location in the courtroom to make sure they are not used, and that the courtroom set-up is correct.
Everything on counsel table(with the exception of water bottles) must be able to lay flat on counsel table during the trial. No electronc devices(phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) are allowed during trial.
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9. NOTE: The only people who may be in a courtroom during trial are team members, team advisors, and advisor-approved observers. Any and all advisors, coaches, and observers must be in full view of the presiding judge during the entire trial and may not communicate with the team at any point during the trial.
Step 1:
Place a table at the front of the room. This table will serve as the "Bench" for your courtroom. The table should include your team's computer and your widescreen webcam. The widescreen webcam should be placed
approximately four feet from the ground (this may require utilizing additional objects/a desk riser).
Step 2:
Utilize a tape measurer to measure FOUR FEET from the Bench. At the end of the FOUR FOOT distance, an X should be placed on the floor with tape. No participant should EVER cross the four foot distance between the courtroom well and the bench, unless in the case of technical difficulties. It is at this X location that attorneys should conduct opening statements and closing arguments. Witnesses will also sit at this location during their cross examinations.
Step 3:
When standing at the X used to represent the well of the courtroom, face towards the bench. Then measure THREE FEET to the right of the courtroom well. Place an X on the floor with tape. This location will serve as your courtroom's witness stand for direct examination. Once you have placed an X on the floor with tape, retrieve a chair and place it on top of the witness stand X. Place the front right corner of the chair on the X at a forty-five degree angle. The chair should be moved to the courtroom well location, specified in Step 2, during a witness's cross examination.
Courtroom Set-up
Step 4:
Return to the X that represents your courtroom's courtroom well. Face the bench. Use your tape measurer to measure THREE FEET to the left. At this location, put an X on the floor with tape. It is at this location that direct attorneys will stand when conducting a direct examination.
Courtroom Set-up
Step 5:
Return to the X on the floor that marks your courtroom well. Turn your back to the bench. Utilize your tape measurer to measure FIVE FEET straight back from the X marking the courtroom well. Place an X on the ground with tape. Place the front right corner of your counsel table on the X at a forty-five degree angle.
Courtroom Set-up
Step 6:
Witness chairs should be positioned so that the witnesses are always in view of the judge. The judge should be able to see all witnesses at all times.
Step 7 (optional):
At the discretion of your school/advisor, each courtroom is permitted to have a gallery. This step is not required. The gallery must be at least three feet behind all of the witness chairs. If allowed by your
school/advisor, advisors, parents, and other acquaintances may sit in the gallery during trial. For more rules regarding the courtroom gallery, please reference the "Trial Rules" portion of the competition rules.
