League Policies

1. 1. Advocates must be present and ready to begin promptly or risk forfeiture of the round. Forfeiture is determined by Tournament Administration.
      1. Competitors experiencing technical difficulties that cannot be resolved within a total of 15 minutes risk forfeiture of the round.
   2. Speakers must provide their own timepieces.
      1. The timepiece must count down and have an audible alarm.
      2. Electronic devices, such as phones, may be used for timekeeping, provided that competitors adhere to all other rules and limitations regarding the use of electronic devices.
   3. Speakers who are presenting will time their own speeches.
   4. Prescribed speaking order and time limits should be strictly observed, but the Chief Justice may allow limited extensions of time to permit a speaker to briefly answer a question or conclude a thought. Each side has a total of 20 minutes to speak.
      1. The petitioner must reserve between 1 and 4 minutes for rebuttal (in whole-minute increments) before the round. The remaining time is then divided evenly between the two speakers. Once the rebuttal time has been reserved it may not be changed in the round.
      2. The respondent must divide the 20-minute speaking time evenly between the two speakers.
   5. The first minute of each speech except the rebuttal is protected from interruption. The clerk will clap to indicate the end of this first minute.
   6. After the first minute, justices may interrupt a competitor to ask questions.
   7. The rebuttal is not protected, and justices may interrupt at any time.

    

   Moot Court Speeches	Time
   Petitioner 1	Up to 10 minutes, as reserved
   Petitioner 2	Up to 10 minutes, as reserved
   Respondent 1	10 minutes
   Respondent 2	10 minutes
   Rebuttal from either Petitioner 1 or 2	Up to 4 minutes, as reserved

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