Mock Trial Handbook-Addendum

LOUISIANA MOCK TRIAL HANDBOOK - ADDENDUM

NOTE: These rules are largely meant to give a brief explanation of the competition protocol and to provide guidance to teams in the event any technical issues arise during the competition. The rules do not need to be committed to memory and can be referred to during the competition.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Rule 1.1 – Definitions 1. For purposes of 2021, the term Room or Courtroom is assumed to be virtual. 2. A Breakout Room is a private space, within your virtual courtroom, that a Blue Shirt will use to conduct an initial tech check. 3. PROcess is the digital competition management software that Empire uses to coordinate its mock trial competitions: judges’ scores are entered into the PROcess, which then determines a team’s record and subsequent trial opponent based on those scores. 4. Empire Online is the digital arm of Empire that coordinates and implements virtual mock trial competitions for high school students. 5. Empire @ Home is a type of virtual mock trial competition in which mock trial teams compete against one another via videoconference, with competitors streaming from separate locations. Empire @ Home was designed to accommodate those teams who wish to compete in an Empire Online program, but cannot physically assemble to compete.

CHAPTER 2: CREATING YOUR ROSTER

Rule 2.1 - Substitutions in Case of Illness or Technological Malfunction 1. GENERAL RULE. If a participant becomes too ill to compete, or if a student suffers an unresolvable technological malfunction at Empire @ Home, the affected team may use a permissible substitute. If no permissible substitute is available, or the team chooses not use a permissible substitute, the judges shall enter a score of “0” for the affected role(s) and the trial will proceed, pursuant to the Tabulation Manual and the direction of the Tab Officers.

Rule 2.2 - Timekeepers 1. Collaborating. Timekeepers for opposing teams shall work together to ensure accurate timekeeping and minimize interruptions of the trial due to errors in timekeeping.

2. Procedures. a. At the conclusion of each examination, each timekeeper will inform their fellow timekeeper, via the Virtual Courtroom’s chat functionality, of the amount of time which they believe remains.

b. Timekeeping procedure and Empire customs are outlined in the most recent Timekeeping Resource Guide (TRG). Where the TRG includes information not contained herein, the TRG is binding.

c. Each must bring “time remaining” cards for the timekeepers to display simultaneously to the Court. They can either create their own timecards or use Empire-provided cards, located in the TRG.

3. Permissible Use of Webcam a. Empire @ Home i. Each timekeeper shall keep their Webcam turned on while timing a speech or examination given by an attorney on their own team. They shall display the amount of time remaining in their team’s case by displaying a physical sign or card to their Webcam. b. Either format i. Each timekeeper shall keep their Webcam turned off during a speech or examination given by the opposing team. They shall turn their Webcam on only if time expires during the speech or examination, to display a sign or card that says time has expired. ii. Each timekeeper shall keep their Webcam turned off during breaks in trial. Once the break period has expired, both timekeepers shall turn on their Webcams to announce that time has expired, as outlined in the TRG.

CHAPTER 3: ORDER OF OPERATIONS

Rule 3.1 - Sequence of Events All trials shall proceed in the order outlined below:

1. PRE-ROUND. 60 minutes before the scheduled start of the trial, a team must login to PROcess and complete the steps outlined below. a. Enter Courtroom. Click on the Join Videoconference button. All of the actions that follow shall be facilitated by a Blue Shirt. b. Breakout Room. Move to a breakout room with members of your team. c. Tech Check. While in the breakout room, each competing student in the upcoming trial shall perform a test of their microphone, webcam, and demonstrate compliance with the applicable Empire Online Setup Guide. d. Team Introduction. The captain(s) of each team and one adult coach shall move to a separate breakout room for the Team Introduction. See Rule 3.2 for team responsibilities.

Rule 3.2 - Team Introduction 1. Duties. At the Team Introduction, one adult coach and the team captain(s) is responsible for the following tasks. a. Verbal call order. Announce witness call order, as per instructions in the case materials. b. Witness Call Order Form. Log back into PROcess and enter witness character names, call order and applicable gender pronoun. The information provided must be consistent with that provided to a team’s opponent during the verbal call order (See Rule 3.2.a.), and may not be altered after submission. c. Team Lineup Form (TLF). Submit a chronological list of each trial

2 component and the student performing the corresponding speech or examination. A team may only complete their TLF, after their opponent has completed their Witness Call Order Form.

CHAPTER 4: THE TRIAL

Rule 4.1 - Manner of Examination Participants should address a jury if there is a jury present and address the bench if there is no jury. Unless directed otherwise by the judge, counsel will ask permission to approach the judge or a witness, or to use an exhibit or demonstrative aid. At all times, counsel shall maintain a respectful demeanor.

Rule 4.2 – Objections Objections are subject to the following limitations:

1. HOW OBJECTIONS SHOULD BE MADE. All objections shall be conducted in open court. With the exception of an Empire Online competition following an Empire @ Home format, all attorneys should address only the Presider during all objections. Side bars are strictly prohibited.

Rule 4.3 - Use of Exhibits at Trial The use and admission of exhibits at trial is subject to the following rules:

1. PROCEDURE. Empire shall publish a procedure for the use and admission of exhibits at trial. Teams are required to follow said procedure. It should be assumed that the witness has a copy of the exhibit. 2. EXHIBIT IDENTIFICATION. At the moment counsel seeks to have a witness identify an exhibit at trial, they are required to identify the Exhibit by the ID # in the problem. You do not have to screen share the exhibit. There should be sufficient time for the opposing party to have an opportunity to verify the Exhibits authenticity by referring to their own copy. 3. TIMEKEEPER CONTROLS PRESENTATION OF EXHIBITS. The timekeeper is the only member of the team who may control the display of exhibits.

Rule 4.4 - Communication During a Round 1. TECH MALFUNCTION EXCEPTION. A competing student may communicate with their mock trial coach if they suffer a technological malfunction, See Rule 7.11, and the competing student’s communication is for the limited purpose of remedying the malfunction. a. Scope. Once the competing student regains entry into their courtroom, their communication with their coach must cease. b. Applicability. This exception is applicable to any competing student that suffers a technological malfunction in an Empire @ Home competition, or a timekeeper that suffers a technological malfunction.

Rule 4.5 - Empire Online Trials are Private All Empire Online trials will be streamed via YouTube, and are accessible to affiliated persons of each competing team. No person may watch an Empire Online trial unless they are affiliated with one of the competing students in that trial.

3 CHAPTER 7: EMPIRE ONLINE1

Chapter 7: Empire Online Setup, Recording & Streaming Trials, Empire @ Home

Rule 7.1 - Applicability of this Section Chapter 7 applies to any Empire Online competition.

Rule 7.2 - Definitions 1. The Platform is the videoconferencing system that Empire uses to facilitate Empire Online mock trials. All 2021 Empire Online will take place via Zoom video-conference. 2. Empire @ Home a. The Virtual Well is the space set up by students portraying attorneys in their own location. b. The Virtual Witness Stand is the space set up by students portraying witnesses in their own location.

Rule 7.3 - Setup 1. TEAMS. a. Empire @ Home. Each competing student is required to connect to the videoconference separately. 2. JUDGES & STAFF. Judges and staff will connect to the videoconference individually. 3. PROCEEDINGS. Teams will present statements, examinations and evidence via videoconference. 4. SCORING & FEEDBACK. Judges will submit feedback and scores electronically as the trial progresses, and then provide verbal feedback in the videoconference after the trial has concluded.

Rule 7.4 - Recording & Streaming Trials To support civics education and to ensure that family and friends can enjoy watching their loved ones participate in mock trial, the guardians of all competing students are asked to consent, via written waiver, to Empire both recording, and privately streaming, each trial at Empire Online. Any objection to this Rule 7.4 should be submitted to the Empire Leadership team via email ([email protected]) no later than seven days before the start of competition.

Rule 7.5 - Judge Configuration 1. SUPPLEMENTARY BALLOTS. Each trial will contain one judge who scores, but whose ballot will not count towards the trial result unless another scoring judge experiences a technological malfunction. This ballot is referred to as the ‘supplementary ballot’. 2. VIDEO. Judges are required to keep their Webcams switched on for the duration of the trial. A judge whose Webcam is switched off (i) without good cause and (ii) for more than two minutes while a student is presenting a speech or examination will forfeit scoring privileges. a. Tab Room as final decision maker. The Tab Room makes the final decision as to whether a judge’s ballot should be discarded.

1 There are no missing chapters. These rules are simply numbered to correspond with Empire’s rules.

4 EMPIRE ONE (Note: Rules 7.6-7.8 Do not apply and have been omitted).

Rule 7.9 - Technical Requirements Teams which compete in an Empire @ Home program must secure the equipment outlined below. 1. COMPUTERS. Each competing student must connect to the videoconference via a desktop or laptop computer that meets the system requirements of the platform selected for Empire @ Home. 2. INTERNET CONNECTION. Each competing student must connect to the platform using a wired or wireless internet connection, the strength and speed of which must meet the system requirements of the platform selected for Empire @ Home. 3. Webcams. Webcams are not provided as part of Empire @ Home. Competing students’ webcams must meet the system requirements of the platform selected for Empire @ Home.

Rule 7.10 - Setup & Presentation 1. SETUP. Teams are required to set up their Virtual Well and Virtual Witness Stand according to the Empire @ Home Setup Guide. 2. TRIAL CUSTOMS. Teams are required to follow all Empire @ Home Trial Customs for presenting in virtual court in Empirion. 3. PERMISSIBLE USE OF WEBCAM. a. During introductions (pre-oral argument), all participants’ webcams shall be turned on. b. After introductions, only the student(s) presenting, the presenter’s timekeeper, and their opponent for that part of the trial shall turn their webcams on. c. An opposing team’s timekeeper may only turn their webcam on if the opposing team’s time has expired. 4. PERMISSIBLE USE OF MICROPHONE. a. During introductions (pre-oral argument), all participants’ microphones shall be turned on. b. During a speech, the presenting student’s microphone shall be unmuted (turned on). All other participants must be muted. c. During an examination, the presenting attorney and presenting witness shall keep their microphones unmuted (turned on). The objecting opposing counsel’s microphone shall remain muted, unless and until they raise an objection. d. Each team’s timekeeper may only unmute their microphone to announce that time has expired. 5. VIOLATION. If a team’s Virtual Courtroom is not in compliance with the Setup Guide and this Rule, they will be asked to reconfigure it immediately. Penalties will apply for teams which fail to reconfigure their Virtual Courtroom in a timely manner.

Rule 7.11 - Technological Malfunctions 1. TEAMS. If a student experiences a technological malfunction that results in them dropping the connection to the online platform while delivering a statement or examination, the trial will stop to allow the student some time to resolve this malfunction. a. Stopping condition. The trial will be stopped if the malfunction is sufficiently serious that one of the following conditions apply: i. The student loses connection to their videoconference completely for a period exceeding 15 seconds; or

5 ii. The connection quality is sufficiently degraded such that the other participants on the videoconference cannot see or understand the student. The impacted student should initially seek to resolve the malfunction on their own. b. Stopping procedure. The other team and/or judges remaining in the round should acknowledge the student’s connection loss as soon as it is noticed, so that the trial is paused while the technological malfunction is resolved. See Rule 4.4. If a coach cannot resolve the applicable stopping condition, then the coach (not the student) should initiate contact with the Tech Room. c. Recovery time. An affected student will be given a period of time to resolve their technological issue and reconnect to the videoconference. i. First malfunction. A student will be given up to three (3) minutes to recover after their first technological malfunction. ii. Subsequent malfunctions. A student will be given up to two (2) minutes to recover after their second and subsequent technological malfunctions. iii. Tab Room as final decision maker. The Tab Room may extend the recovery time if they determine there is a compelling reason to do so. d. Remedy for non-recovery. If the impacted student is unable to resolve their technological malfunction in this time period, a team may replace the students with a permissible roster substitution. Judges will be asked to score the student as if they were the dropped-out student, and their score will count towards the performance of the dropped-out team. e. Recovery restart. If the dropped-out students remedies their technological malfunction after they have been replaced, they may rejoin their trial at the next trial stoppage. For the purpose of this rule, a trial stoppage is defined as the end of a speech or the end of an examination. 2. JUDGES. If a judge experiences a technological malfunction which results in them dropping the connection to the online platform, the trial will stop to allow the judge some time to resolve this difficulty. a. Recovery time. Judges will be provided with up to five (5) minutes of recovery time for all malfunctions, regardless of whether it is their first malfunction. i. Tab Room as final decision maker. The Tab Room may extend the recovery time if they determine there is a compelling reason to do so. b. Remedy for non-recovery. If a judge is unable to remedy their technical malfunction and the judge is a scoring judge, the supplementary ballot will count in place of the dropped-out judge’s ballot (see Rule 7.4). c. Recovery restart. If the dropped-out judge remedies their technical malfunction after the 5- minute recovery time has expired, they may rejoin the trial as a non-scoring judge.