2008 2L/3L MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION RULES
October 27 – 31, 2008
RULE UPDATES AND CLARIFICATIONS:
(This space will be used to post answers to questions asked by competitors prior to the competition)
Update 10-24-08:
Rule Clarification: Please add the following to the Pre-trial Order: The Defense has given notice to the Prosecution that it will be asserting the affirmative defense of self-defense.
Rule Clarification: It was stated in an earlier rule clarification that you may not bring a knife to the competition. Competitors may attempt to use an object in place of a knife for demonstrative purposes. However, parties have not stipulated to this use.
Update 10-20-08:
Question: Is it okay to talk with teachers and practitioners about the competition problem? This question was not explicitly addressed in the competition rules.
Answer: The official rule for this competition is that competitors may talk with professors, instructors and practitioners about the problem.
Question: How are we supposed to introduce the medical examiner's report if the medical examiner is not testifying and there is no additional time given for this?
Answer: Assuming that you have established adequate foundation you may attempt to introduce the report while examining a testifying witness.
Question: There is a picture of a knife in the competition problem. Since we were told the knife is missing, is this supposed to be a substantially similar knife or the actual knife?
Answer: The photo is of a substantially similar knife.
Question: Can we bring in a fake knife for illustrative purposes only?
Answer: Please do not bring a knife (real or fake) to the competition. I understand that in “real life” you may be able to bring in another knife, for illustrative purposes, as long as you established a foundation that it was substantially similar to the real knife. However, for liability and other (probably apparent) reasons please do not bring a real or fake knife to the competition.
Question: Is the date of Pat Hughes' statement in the pre-trial order correct?
Answer: The date on page two of the pre-trial order is incorrect. The pre-trial order states that "parties stipulate that the tape recording of the May 24, 2007, statement by Pat Hughes is unavailable to either side. . . " The correct date is May 25, 2006.
View Complete Rules (word doc)
I. GENERAL RULES
A. COMPETITION COMMITTEE
The Moot Court Honor Board (MCHB) selects a Competition Committee to run each competition. The members of the Mock Trial Competition Committee are as follows:
Competition Chair: Steven Gardiner, steven09@u.washington.edu
Logistics and Scoring Manager: Dario Machleidt; dam9@u.washington.edu
Judges Managers: Eric Jensen eric.john.jensen@gmail.com, Elizabeth Little elittle@u.washington.edu and Charlotte Williams ccw10@u.washington.edu
B. QUESTIONS
Questions regarding the competition should be directed to the Competition Chair. Do not rely on answers from other MCHB members or competitors.
C. UPDATE NOTICES
We will post notices on an easel outside the MCHB office on the first floor. Teams are responsible for checking the easel regularly. We will send periodic announcements out via email, but you are responsible for knowing the content of notices posted on the easel outside the office.
D. IMPORTANT DATES
Sign-up Begins…………………..Wednesday, 10/1/08
Problem Posted…………………..Wednesday, 10/1/08
Sign-up Ends……………………. Wednesday, 10/15/08 at 5pm ($50 fee due!)
Deadline for Dropping Out……… Monday, 10/20/08
Match-ups Posted…………..……Thursday, 10/23/08
Competition Week………………10/27/08 – 10/31/08
E. ON RESERVE
The competition problem, Competition Rules, and the MCHB Bylaws are on reserve in the Law Library. The Bylaws describe the structure and operating policies of the MCHB.
G. PENALTY FOR DROPPING OUT OF THE COMPETITION AT A LATE DATE
Any competitor or team that drops out of the competition after 5:00 p.m. on October 20, 2008, without good cause (such as a death in the family, severe personal illness, or other emergency situation) will be barred from competing in any MCHB-sponsored, in-house competition for the remainder of the 2008–2009 school year. A team or competitor will not be deemed to have dropped out of the competition until an email or other writing that states the team is withdrawing from the competition is received by the Competition Chair. Whether or not the standard for “good cause” has been met is in the sole discretion of the MCHB Executive Board. The Executive Board reserves the right to request a doctor’s letter or other documentation as evidence of emergency.
H. HONOR CODE
Each competitor shall follow the MCHB Competition Honor Code, set forth at Rule 306 of the MCHB Bylaws, during preparation rounds and participation in Oral rounds. Competitors may discuss the problem with other students and receive critique from each other, professors, and attorneys in practice rounds if they wish..
