2019-2020 Season

Richard Haber, Chagrin Falls High School.

rhaber@haberllp.com For any e-mail chains during round (specifically for Virtual Tournaments)

I am a practicing Trial Attorney and have practiced law for nearly 30 years. I also coach of Public Forum and have done so for 8 years. With respect to LD, I assist LD debaters as needed and judge when required though I am admittedly more experienced with Public Forum.

GENERAL COMMENTS:

I can handle a fair amount of speed, but please exercise some common sense with pace. Do not spread. If I am judging (Whether PF or LD) you may assume I am familiar with the topic which will certainly help me follow your argumentation. Nevertheless, I believe the judge should judge as if he/she has no prior knowledge about the topic. Thus, you will win or lose the round based upon what happens in the round. If you advocate a position that I know is not correct based upon my own review of the topic I may note it as an NVI, but it will only impact the round if your opponent calls you on it. I will not intervene in rendering a decision.

As a practicing attorney, I value professionalism. I expect debaters to be professional, respect your opponents and facilitate the exchange of ideas.

PF COMMENTS:

Generally, I decide the round on who persuades me. It is not a question of how many argument you win, but which arguments you win, the impacts of those arguments and how you weigh them. I am a flow judge and will track the round. If you do not respond to a contention of your opponent, you risk losing the argument, and if important in the weight of the round it could result in a loss. However, just because your opponent fails to respond to a contention or sub-contention, does not mean you win the issue. You must still persuade me why it matters.

As a trial lawyer, I think evidence is important, but it is equally important to me to logically extend your evidence. Please explain why your evidence is more important or impactful than the evidence that your opponent inevitably will argue in response. I view Summary as the opportunity to reset the round. Structure the round for me as the judge and tell me what I should be looking for through the rest of the round. It may require you rebut additional points, but in the end, start to focus and weigh the round on the 2 to 3 key issues that I will be voting on.

You should extend your case and arguments throughout the round. If you don't extend, I will assume you are dropping a contention (assuming opponent rebutted). Do not lay in wait until second speaker final focus to extend the argument - though I understand the strategy, I prefer teams debate the issues that matter, rather than prevail on a failure to debate.

To this end, cross-fire is not an opportunity to filibuster. It is intended as an exchange of ideas. Your opponent's response to a well framed question can be far more impactful to me, than refusing to allow them to answer. If they are evasive, I will get it.

You should be careful running theory or kritiks. Though I will not "drop" you for running theory or kritik, I am not a fan of avoiding the clash on the topic.

I will consider arguments raised in grand crossfire if reasonable in the flow of the round because your opponent can respond in grand cross and final focus. I will not consider new evidence or arguments raised in either final focus.

The best speakers may not always win. The team with the best reasoned arguments, offering the greatest reasonably extended impacts will prevail on my ballot.

LD COMMENTS:

Generally, speaking I am not as familiar with (or fond) of progressive debate). I will not automatically vote you down if you offer progressive arguments, but it will require you offer greater explanation why I should accept your arguments/position if it is not embracing the actual subject of the debate.

Because I am a trial lawyer, and because of my PF background, use of evidence, and explanation of evidence, a logical extension of this evidence and warranting about why it connects with your position is always well received. I don't like listing of evidence in PF without explanation, simply citing to evidence without some explanation of its importance does little to advance the ball for me in LD as well. I value strong logical links as much as evidentiary links.

I will flow the round. I will vote off of my flow. I will flow your CX to the extent that you make/establish point in furtherance of your case. Ultimately, I will decide the round on the debater that overall convinces me of their position. Please note, I view debate as an exchange of ideas. Engage your opponent's warrants, while furthering your own. Impacts matter when weighing warrants which may both be true.

I decide based on the most important arguments in the round, so I will not penalize a debater for failing to cover every sketchy claim put out by an opponent. I strongly prefer crystallization and voting issues in NR and 2AR.

GOOD LUCK

It is known that Public Forum Debate was designed to appeal to common people, as such most of your judges will be “lay” judges, meaning that they have no formal debate experience. I fall into this category.  I did not debate in high school or college; but, I do often find myself debating with my two sons.  I am judging Public Forum Debate in order to support my boys' passion for this event.  In offering my time, I'm hoping more parents will offer their time in order to support their schools as more schools attempt to create a Speech and Debate program.  

Since I come to these rounds as a parent and not a coach, I will only disclose the reasons for my decisions on the ballot and not at the end of the rounds.  Based on the tournament rules and what round of the tournament we are in, I am open to disclosing who won/loss the round.  

Other important information -   

I believe it is your job to write my ballot.  So signpost please.  Provide me with a clear way to evaluate the debate.   

I favor quality over quantity.  Logical reasoning, maturity of thought, and effectiveness of communication are of primary consideration.  Evidence, examples, and analogies are to be used for the purpose of illustration. 

When deciding the round, I try to have the following question answered - "If I had no prior beliefs about this resolution, would the round as a whole have made me more likely to believe the resolution was true or not true?"

I appreciate funny and creative taglines.  

The Round - Defense is sticky. Use Summary and Final Focus to inform me which arguments are the most important and why they mean you win. I do not need a line-by-line recap of the debate.  If this paragraph, doesn't make sense to you, don't worry about it.  If on the other hand you do understand my points, than don't waste your time in round trying to convince me where or when your opponent dropped an argument or failed to extend.  

Speaker Points - my speaker points are based on how you did compared to past debate rounds that I have judged.  So some judge might have given you 29s and 30s for a given tournament but you might have just received a 27 from me.  Don't read that as an indication that I didn't think you did a good job; but, instead just assume I've seen better speakers in the past.  

Evidence - Don't lie about evidence.  I view evidence for purposes of illustration (see prior comments).  The quality of evidence is hard to judge.  If it takes you more than a minute to find a card after it's called for I'm simply going to strike it.  You should have quick access to your evidence.  

Crossfire - do not turn this into a brawl.  It is not necessary to raise your voices.  I will be in the same seat throughout the round.  So if I could hear you clearly prior to crossfire, assume I can hear you clearly during crossfire.  

Speed - I do not like "spreading".  If I am unable to flow your round, that onus is on you and not me.  You should ask yourself, "Do you feel lucky?" If the answer to that question is yes, than go for it.  I might be able to understand your spread.  

Be witty and you will be rewarded. Be mean and you will be punished.  Be respectful to your opponent.  

I leave you with this one final quote from the famed anime philosopher Naruto Uzumaki - "I like ramen. I hate the three minutes you have to wait while the water boils. And my dream is to one day become a Hokage."

Matt Novak: Kenston High School

I've been a debate coach at Kenston High School in Chargrin Falls, OH for the last 5 years. I've judged PF, LD, and Congress, primarily in Ohio but also on the national circuit. I'm the parent of a TOC finalist, so I've seen what it takes to win. I'm a West Point graduate with a degree in civil engineering and Iraq war veteran. I currently work for a North America-focused consumer goods company and have spent the last 15 years in supply chain roles. I did not debate in high school or college.

I will flow the round. I'm not a fan of policy-like spreading, but I can deal with a faster than normal speed. I value competitors that show a deep understanding of the topic and clearly have researched and thought through all of their arguments. I prefer an aggressive cross with more question/answer back and forth than drawn-out speeches. I'm balanced between evidence and logic, there needs to be both in a good argument. I'm ok with the K as long as it tangentially applies to the debate.

Good Luck!

I coached Public Forum starting from its beginning in 2002 until I retired from teaching in 2011. I have continued on as an active judge: judging at the local, state, and national levels. Nearly all of my judging in recent years has been Policy but with Lincoln Douglas and some Public Forum in the mix.

PF:

In the traditional spirit of Public Forum, the debate is best presented in a clear, understandable manner.

PF is a relatively short, quick-paced form of debate. Complexity is fine but be judicious. Stay focused and relatively succinct. Communicate well. I judge Policy, but spreading has no place in PF - at least for me. If I can’t follow what you are saying, well…

Base your contentions on reliable evidence. Draw conclusions using sound reasoning. Clash (of ideas) is great. Obnoxious, aggressive behavior, if it gets ugly, may cost a round.

Limited tag-teaming during crossfire is OK.

A strong final focus can often win a close round.

LD:

Questions worth considering are: What is good (or at least the greater good), and what form should it take in the real world? Philosophers have had a lot to say about this. But so does common sense. Consider me the man on the street who sometimes digs philosophers when they also have their feet on the ground. Using a good strategy can be a winner. Getting beyond philosophy and reason, within limits, emotional appeals can be persuasive.

Moral, ethical and philosophical considerations should be a foundation for your case.

Policy:

I characterize myself as a "Policy Maker Judge." I can handle a modest amount of spreading but don't overdo it. It's more effective to rely on the quality of arguments and evidence than on quantity. Substance counts and so does style. Limited tag-teaming is OK. It is a real art to be confrontational while also being genuinely respectful of your opponent.

While Kritiks are a worthy part of Policy debate, I have never found them to be a decisive, or sometimes even a relevant, factor in my decisions. For some judges they are significant so when there is a panel, feel free to use them. Just be sure to present a strong arguments that support or negate the Affirmative case.

Learn from your experience.

Do what you do best.

Enjoy the competition!

Background

Director of Speech & Debate at Taipei American School in Taipei, Taiwan. Founder and Director of the Institute for Speech and Debate (ISD). Formerly worked/coached at Hawken School, Charlotte Latin School, Delbarton School, The Harker School, Lake Highland Prep, Desert Vista High School, and a few others.

Updated for Online Debate

I coach in Taipei, Taiwan. Online tournaments are most often on US timezones - but we are still competing/judging. That means that when I'm judging you, it is the middle of the night here. I am doing the best I can to adjust my sleep schedule (and that of my students) - but I'm likely still going to be tired. Clarity is going to be vital. Complicated link stories, etc. are likely a quick way to lose my ballot. Be clear. Tell a compelling story. Don't overcomplicate the debate. That's the best way to win my ballot at 3am - and always really. But especially at 3am.

williamsc@tas.tw is the best email for the evidence email chain.

Paradigm

You can ask me specific questions if you have them...but my paradigm is pretty simple - answer these three questions in the round - and answer them better than your opponent, and you're going to win my ballot:

1. Where am I voting?

2. How can I vote for you there?

3. Why am I voting there and not somewhere else?

I'm not going to do work for you. Don't try to go for everything. Make sure you weigh. Both sides are going to be winning some sort of argument - you're going to need to tell me why what you're winning is more important and enough to win my ballot.

If you are racist, homophobic, nativist, sexist, transphobic, or pretty much any version of "ist" in the round - I will drop you. There's no place for any of that in debate. Debate should be as safe of a space as possible. Competition inherently prevents debate from being a 100% safe space, but if you intentionally make debate unsafe for others, I will drop you. Period.

One suggestion I have for folks is to embrace the use of y'all. All too often, words like "guys" are used to refer to large groups of people that are quite diverse. Pay attention to pronouns (and enter yours on Tabroom!), and be mindful of the language you use, even in casual references.

I am very very very very unlikely to vote for theory. I don't think PF is the best place for it and unfortunately, I don't think it has been used in the best ways in PF so far. Also, I am skeptical of critical arguments. If they link to the resolution, fantastic - but I don't think pre-fiat is something that belongs in PF. If you plan on running arguments like that, it might be worth asking me more about my preferences first - or striking me.