As a judge, I have a moderate amount of experience. I would not consider myself a novice, but also not a "tech" judge. I will do my very best to judge, not only follow the rubric and resources provided, but also by following my instincts and heart. I appreciate good delivery that is efficient, but not over paced. I may ask you kindly to slow down if I'm having trouble keeping up. I do take into consideration mannerisms, tone, inflection, and eye contact when judging your delivery. I also appreciate it when you show your fellow competitors respect, kindness, and over all good sportsmanship. What you are doing is difficult, and I commend you for pushing yourself to do hard things. Just please keep in mind, this is hard for me too, and my decisions do not come lightly. Good luck! A little luck never hurts;)

I judge based on the strength of the arguments. I favor clarity of speech over volume of information.

I will probably not like you if you are a typical debate kid. I want to see well-reasoned, evidence-based arguments, not a firehouse worthy of a horse auction.

I am a lay judge lacking extensive experience judging. I am currently a legal professional with limited knowledge of this year's topics, so please explain your arguments well. I am okay with you running any argument that is not offensive, as long as you explain it well enough. I have little familiarity with kritiks and theory, if you choose to run these arguments make sure you are very thorough (paint a picture) and leave me without any major questions regarding the argument itself or how I should analyze it in the context of the round. I will be flowing to the best of my ability.

Clarity > Speed

Throughout the round, be respectful and passionate! When you want me to remember something specific, make sure to emphasize it.

At the end of the round you should write my ballot for me. Use your final speeches to make clear why you should win, this improves my ability to provide you with a fair decision. I will be as objective as possible in how I analyze each round, that means if your opponent makes a bad argument you should point it out and tell me why it is weak.

All Debates: Please be respectful to your opponents! :) I will NOT drop your speaks based on speaking differences (e.g., stuttering, sound errors).

Policy: I have experience, but am a little out of practice. I was usually more of a politics DA/ CP or T debater, but that does not bar me from voting for a well-done K. I am willing to hear just about any argument, but I need impact analysis! Tell me how/ why to vote. I am not willing to kick a position for you when I write my ballot. Speed is generally fine, but I need clarity. Please don't give opponents a ton of cards that you didn't even read. I expect competitors to be respectful of their opponents, partners, judges, etc.

LD: My primary experience is in Policy debate, but I have judged and coached LD for several years. I like for debaters to give me voting issues and tell me how to vote/ why they won. I do think values and criterion should be part of those voting issues. Off-time roadmaps are fine. Please be respectful to your opponents! :)

PF: My primary experience is in Policy debate, but I have judged PF for several years. I like for debaters to give me voting issues and tell me how to vote/ why they won.

I am a lay-judge as the parent of a debater. The main features I look for are excellent speaking skills and cogent arguments with good source support.

While well constructed arguments will do more for your prospects, a clear and powerful speaking presence is essential to your success. I discourage spreading and spewing. Arguments should be clear and concise and presentation should be at a pace that is comprehensible.

I hope to have a collegial, professional but fun environment. I am excited to listen to your speeches, best of luck to all debaters!

My paradigm is this: persuade me.

Here are some things that will help:

-I need to hear you clearly to understand you

-I need to believe you when you reference evidence

-I need to see a thread connecting your evidence to your claims

-logical arguments are more persuasive to me than the volume of evidence. I will respect evidence, but I will not count cards.

In CX, I don't want to hear hyperbolic assumptions. I will try to flow, but I tend towards big picture...just being honest here.

In LD, I want to hear a justification for your philosophical framework and to see how that framework is guiding your position. That will be more compelling to me than speed, cards, or rhetoric.

In PF, just make me believe you are right. 

***If you have me judging on the 2/4/18 there is a large possibility that I will be watching the superbowl instead of flowing your round (Go Patriots!)***

Updated for Golden Desert Public Forum: I am a hardcore policy judge and have next to zero PF experience so pref at your own risk.

I am a coach over at East High School in UT and have been for the past couple years

***+0.5 speaks for any High School Musical References.***

Argument Preference:

I think framework is fairly pointless and will probably end up avoiding evaluating it at all costs, but you do you.

Your contention titles should be clear enough for me to understand your entire argument based on them alone.

I feel like Public Forum all to often ignores offense but this is a huge no-no with me, tell me why each contention individually wins you the round

Plan is ok but make sure to lay out solvency well, remember you don't get fiat here like you do in policy.

I love topicality, so try and work it in when y'all are neg

General:

I only intervene in special situations (i.e. sexism, racism, republicanism, ect.) I will listen to every type of argument except politics because in this climate I think it is fairly pointless.

Will drop a team for suggesting the globe is round and always looking for like minded science allies. Really not a fan of ignorance in general and you can expect low speaks if your speeches come close to a presidential levels falsehoods.

Make sure to be aggressive during cross-ex, I hate hearing "Would you like the first question?", this is a competition take anything you can to get a leg up on your opponent.

Speaks:

Most of the time I give around a 26 but that can change, I have never given a 30 so try and be my first :)

Good Trump impressions +1.0

Bad Trump impressions -2.0

I currently serve as the head coach for Park City High School.

In-round Preferences:

• Weigh.
• Collapse.
• Weigh.
• Please signpost — it makes it much easier to flow
• I appreciate critical arguments, but keep them accessible to people who aren’t terribly familiar with K debate or literature
• Weigh.
• Please be consistent with your warranting.
• Offense must be in summary and final focus.
• Weigh
• Because I coach, I am very familiar with the resolution you are debating.
• Do not say racist, homophobic, xenophobic or sexist things. Pay attention to the language you use, and know that I will, too.
• A sense of humor is always appreciated. Have fun. Don't take yourselves too seriously. Please do not be condescending to your opponent during cross.
• Weigh.
• I am an experienced coach and judge. I know the rules. Win the round fairly (because your arguments/analytics are better). It's that simple.

• I have been involved in debate with Park City High School since 2017. I respect and admire students who are committed to learning about and engaging in academic conversations. Thank you for being a part of debate.

Make this your best round possible. I look forward to judging, and hope you share the same enthusiasm for competing.

Finally, should I judge something other than PF: In terms of theory, I don't like it. If you insist upon running it, I will listen/judge begrudgingly and choose truth over tech. I hate frivolous or abusive theory - only run it if it's a true violation.

My email (for questions): awilliams@pcschools.us

In-round Preferences:

• Weigh.
• Though I flow, I cannot keep up with spreading. Please keep it to a traditional speed in PF.
• Weigh.
• Please signpost — it makes it much easier to flow
• I appreciate critical arguments, but keep them accessible to people who aren’t terribly familiar with K debate or literature
• Weigh.
• Please be consistent with your warranting.
• Offense must be in summary and final focus.
• Weigh
• Do not say racist, homophobic, xenophobic or sexist things. Pay attention to the language you use, and know that I will, too.

Miscellaneous:

• I don't like crossfire. I won’t flow, and you shouldn’t go over time.
• Do not steal prep time.
• Persuade me that you deserve the ballot.
• Weigh.

SPEAKS: High speaker points are earned and not given.

Make it the best debate possible. I look forward to judging, and hope you share the same enthusiasm for competing.