Thank you for volunteering to preside over a round of the high school mock trial competition. These suggestions are provided as a guide to assist you in presiding over the trial and to score the students' performances objectively.

Preparation

* Please read the Mock Trial Case and be familiar with the Mock Trial Handbook, particularly the mock trail rules and simplified rules of evidence.
* If there are any questions, please call the mock trial coordinator.

Before the Trial
* Meet with the bailiff and clerk and have them tell you their roles. DO NOT ask for their school names.

Pre-trial Conference
* Ask each side if it is ready for trial.
* Ask each side to present its team roster to you and ask each team to identify its team members.
* Remind all present that the mock trial rules prohibit any communication between team members and observers, teachers, or coaches from this point until the end of the trial. This includes any recesses which may be called.

The Trial
* Proceed according to the rules. We ask that you be tolerant of mistakes students will make due to their inexperience. When these occur, you may either interrupt the trial and explain the proper procedure, or defer discussion to your critique at the conclusion of the trial before the winning team is announced.
* Special note: Interpret Rule 16 on fair interpretation, p. 5 narrowly.
* You should attempt to move the trial along; it will last approximately two hours.
* You may call recesses at your discretion.
* When objections are offered, you may afford opposing counsel an opportunity to respond, and rule concisely with explanations you think appropriate.
* Do not ask questions of witnesses or attorneys which go beyond the facts in the case materials.
* Scoring: Refer to the "Criteria for Evaluating Student Performance." Elements of attorney and witness roles are provided for your consideration. You have the discretion to discount points for violation of rules.

After the Trial
* Call a short recess and adjourn to a pre-arranged room to begin completing the score sheet. One team must win.
* Plan a short critique of the students' performances. For many students, critiques are a valuable part of mock trial. They learn from hearing specifically what they did well and what they could have done another way. Please keep in mind that these are high school students, so the criticism should be constructive and supportive.
* Have the trial coordinator validate the arithmetic on the score sheet.

Critique and Debriefing
* Give your critique first, before you announce the winner.
* Announce the winning team and score.
* If time allows, entertain questions from the team members and audience.
* Conclude the session and give the score sheet to the mock trial coordinator.

Thank you again for your service. We hope you enjoyed your experience today.