Volunteers are needed to serve as judges for the State Final rounds of the Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition the weekend of March 31 - April 2nd. Volunteers are needed for the following rounds:
- Friday, March 31 at 5:30 p.m. (16 teams/32 judges)
- Saturday, April 1 at 8:30 a.m. (16 teams/32 judges)
- Saturday, April 1 at 1:00 p.m. (8 teams/16 judges)
- Sunday April 2 at 8:30 a.m. (4 teams/8 judges)
- Sunday, April 2 at 1:00 p.m. (2 teams/ 4 judges)
Presiding judges will preside over the trial, ruling on objections and keeping the trial flowing smoothly. Presiding judges do not score individual segments of the trial but do give an overall verdict at the end of the trial. Presiding judges must have a law degree, and some litigation experience is helpful for ruling on objections.
Scoring judges will evaluate each segment of the trial (opening, direct #1, cross #1, etc.) on its own merits resulting in an overall score for the trial that reflects the team that was technically better without regard to the team that would have won the verdict. Scoring judges will not be asked to rule on objections or maintain courtroom order but will instead observe the trial from the jury box. Scoring judges must have a bachelor’s degree but do not have to have any formal legal training or a law degree.
To sign up, visit https://forms.gle/o29EjVeTap7EA1kv9
