Hi. I'm a novice lay judge and will be looking for solid fundamental performance. I want you to be comfortable and feel supported while you're competing. I understand you want to improve, so the best way I can help you is to give you as much info as I can to help you succeed in future tournaments. Thank you for the opportunity to see your work in action! I'm cheering for you!

I am a lay judge/parent judge affiliated with Palm Harbor University High School in Pinellas County, Florida. An attorney by profession, I work as a consultant to providers in the healthcare industry.

I began judging high school debate tournaments in the 2022-2023 school year, so I consider myself relatively new to the process. I did not debate in high school or college, so be careful with the debate jargon and don't assume I'm proficient in it - take the time to explain or, better yet, avoid jargon altogether if possible.

Participants should keep and adhere to time limits. I will be timing as well, and will disregard arguments made after time has expired.

Clarity is crucial to communication, so speak clearly and at a reasonable pace. If I can't understand you or keep up with your pace then you're not communicating. Be respectful of your fellow debaters and avoid talking over each other.

I am looking for a well-rounded performance, my goal is to weigh arguments/style/analytics/evidence equally. I prefer quotations over paraphrasing, and appreciate detailed citations. If you're going to cite a source, you should be able to explain why it is a relevant authority.

Most of all enjoy yourself and have fun!

rakent@aol.com

I would consider myself a lay judge.

If it is the first round, please explain any acronyms pertaining to the topic. Keep track of your prep time. I will not intervene unless a team is accused of abusing prep. Follow NSDA Rules for evidence. Be respectful to your opponents. Do not spread, or you will be voted down. Don't talk too fast, or I may miss a contention and it will be your problem. Always quantify your impacts. Starting from the 2nd rebuttal, you should start frontlining arguments. Elaborate well, because I should not need to stretch your arguments after the round. Always remember: This is a debate tournament, so make sure you have fun!