News

Re: Rule 4.27 (Exhibits)

From email sent by NHSMTC Board Chair Paul Kaufman, sent May 2, 2023:

As you know, Rule 4.27 permits the marking of exhibits in a circumscribed, defined manner.  However, because such marks are permanent, it also requires teams to have with them multiple clean copies of exhibits.  In addition, over the years, some teams have used plastic “sleeves” for exhibits, most frequently those that fit a three-ring binder for ease of organization and transport, but a minority of presiding judges have viewed doing so as a violation of the rules.  

In response to a request from a team, the Rules Committee of the National Board has met, and for purposes of the 2023 National Championship, exhibits may be laminated or placed in sleeves, so long as the exhibits otherwise meet the Rules and, particularly, Rules 4.11 and 4.27 (i.e., they are not enlarged or modified in any way, just laminated or placed in sleeves).  Teams may mark on these exhibits using removable marker, so that the markings can be removed after the trial.  

Teams who laminate or sleeve exhibits and then mark exhibits should bring adequate markers to provide one to the opposing team, if one is requested.  Opposing teams that wish to mark laminated exhibits that have not yet been marked should substitute their own copy, consistent with Rule 4.27.  Teams will be responsible for their own markers, lamination, sleeves, etc., and they are responsible for ensuring that the materials they select allow them to remove markings between trials.  If markings cannot be removed, teams must use unlaminated/unsleeved copies in future trials.

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Expert Witnesses

We received a question regarding procedure regarding expert witnesses. Many states have dispensed with the practice of tendering expert witnesses and only require laying a foundation regarding the witness’s expertise before the witness can render an expert opinion.

In writing our case, however, our plan was to have a case that was as close to Arkansas law as possible. Arkansas procedure still requires the tendering of expert witnesses. As such, it will be expected that anyone that a team deems an “expert” be formally tendered.

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Timekeeping

Finally, we received two questions related to timekeeping.

Q: Does starting time include or exclude when the attorney says “May in please the court, Your Honor, Opposing Council, Members of the Jury” during Opens and Closes? (referring to #4 under “during the trial”)

A: Time starts on the attorney’s first word. So, that would include any introductory formalities such as “May it Please the Court.”

Q: After an objection is sustained during a direct or cross, does the time begin directly after the presiding judge’s ruling or when the attorney speaks the first word after losing the objection? (Are the attorneys allowed a pause after a sustained objection not in their favor?)

A: Time starts when the attorney continues the examination.

After going through registrations and counting available seats, it appears that we will have room to accommodate a few more guests at the Awards Gala. Accordingly, Gala tickets sales are reopened. I estimate that we can accommodate 50 more guests. So, if there is anyone who missed out on that purchase, this is absolutely your last chance. Keep in mind the following:

1. Tickets will not be available for sale on site. 

2. I will be monitoring ticket sales closely. Once we sell 50 tickets, I will shut down the system, and that will be it.

3. Tickets (including those already purchased) will be distributed at on-site registration. That person will be given the Gala tickets and will be responsible for making sure they get to whoever purchases them.

To purchase tickets, go to our payment portal.

Good evening everyone,

If you visit the website, you will notice a new tab at the top of the website labeled “Education.” We are pleased to offer three exceptional opportunities while you are in Little Rock.

First, we have worked with the Clinton Presidental Library and Museum to arrange self-guided tours of their beautiful facility. The library is just a fifteen-minute walk from the Little Rock Marriott, so you should be able to get to it easily.

Second, the National Parks Service will have volunteers waiting for you at the Little Rock Central High Museum. There will be shuttle buses leaving from the hotel to take you to this National Historic Site.

Finally, we are continuing the trend of offering educational seminars before the Pin Exchange. We have five great speakers lined up to teach you about Arkansas history and politics, give you last-minute tips on your mock trial skills, or help you to think about paying for college and beyond.

While there should be enough time and room for everyone to take advantage of all three opportunities, we still need to help our partners plan for your arrival. Therefore, we are asking everyone to RSVP for these events. All events are free to students (including non-competing team members). For the Clinton Library, adults will be charged $10.

To help us plan, we ask that you RSVP by Monday, May 8.

This year, we will be using tabroom.com as our scoring/tabulation software for the competition. For those of you who have never used Tabroom, this will allow our judges to use electronic ballots, which will hopefully speed up the process. 

However, this also means that everyone at the tournament needs to register their team at Tabroom.com. (This registration is in addition to the registration at the website. We have produced a document that gives step-by-step directions on what you need to do to register your Tabroom account.

You will find the instructions by following this link. If you could, please complete this process as soon as possible.

This process is only necessary for the teams only. This process is not necessary for courtroom artists or journalists. In addition, judges will also have to register, but they will receive a separate email.

BTW: Do not forget to purchase your shirts and hats. (Go to the Store tab on the website.) Orders must be placed by Friday to receive them when you arrive in Little Rock.

Good morning everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well. There have been several updates to the website over the last week.

Store is Open

We are working with a local vendor, Arkansas Apparel, to offer t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats. If you order by this Friday, then we will have the order ready for you to pick up at registration. You will find the link under the “Store” page on the website (or you can just follow this link).

Case Updates

We have updated the case in response to some of the Q&A received. I believe that everyone question we’ve received has been addressed, but please let me know if I missed an inquiry. In addition, today is the last day to submit any questions you have about the case. Any questions submitted today will be answered, and a final version of the case (if necessary) will be published by May 1.

Competition Forms

We have also published some forms for the competition. While most of them are “for your information,” two of them will require action on your part. First, we have published a photo and video release. We need every member of the team to sign (and have their parents sign) a release. You will submit these releases when you register in Little Rock. Second, there are the team rosters. You will need to fill out team rosters and print sufficient copies for the competition.

Observers and Gala Tickets

Please remember that all observers must be registered. Several of you have done so already, which we appreciate. Further, if any of them will be attending the awards gala, they will need to purchase a ticket. (You will receive all gala tickets at on-site registration.) I’ll leave observer registration and ticket purchases live for about another week just in case there is anyone else you need to register.

Tours of Clinton Library

Finally, we are still working on finalizing tours of Clinton Library on Wednesday and Thursday morning. Once we have this organized, I will send out a sign-up sheet for anyone who is interested.

Take care,

Anthony L. McMullen

We have partnered with Arkansas Apparel of Little Rock to offer t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats for sale. Orders need to be placed by April 28, and you will be able to pick up your merchandise at on-site registration.

Again, let me reiterate the April 28 deadline for on-site pickup. That gives our vendor just enough time to have everything ready.

UPDATE (4/28): Our vendor has extended the deadline to Monday, May 1 at noon. I don’t expect any additional extensions beyond this one, so get your orders in today.

Click here to access our store.

Hello everyone. It is time to start signing up for scrimmages. If you follow the link below, you’ll see a SignUp Genius page, where you can sign up to use our scrimmage rooms. For now, the rooms are all labeled “Scrim. Room 1,” “Scrim. Room 2,” etc, but all of the rooms will be in the basement of the Statehouse Convention Center, which is connected to the Little Rock Marriott, and of the rooms will be next to each other. (The link below is also the same link you’ll find on the schedule.)

Here is the link to the scrimmage signups.