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. 1 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.