I have been a coach for five years, and I have worked as a guidance counselor for 25 years, teaching communication skills. I am seeking clarity and want you to engage me with your speech. Please speak at a pace that allows me to keep up. Please emphasize your points so I know that they are important, and remember to pause on occasion so that I can take in your ideas.

Analysis is important. I appreciate a clear explanation of your position and I will be listening for how you support your position. Roadmaps are appreciated.

You can keep your own time, or I am happy to time and give you cues.

Be kind, be professional, and have fun!!

About me: I am a father, Language Arts / History Teacher, and Speech and Debate coach. I have been a member of our community as a competitor, judge, and coach since 1990. I believe that this activity is the most important thing young people can do while in school. Trends an styles come and go, but one immovable truth guides my participation in this activity: I care for you, am proud of you, and look forward to you taking control of our country and making it better than when you found it.

About LD: I see my role in the round as a non-intervening arbiter tasked with the job of determining what world, aff or neg, we would be better off living in. I have judged V/C rounds, policy rounds, theory rounds, framework rounds. And while I have not attended a camp, or have a grasp of the current jargon in circuit debate, I find myself able to render decisions consistent with my peers even though I might not be able to vocalize my rationale the way camp debaters expect. I know who won, I just don't have the catchy phrases or lingo to explain how. You can not spread if you don't include me in the email chain. And even then, during rebuttals, I really do need clear signposting and pen time at the critical moments when you need me to hear your analysis. I am a smart guy, but as a father and teacher, I don't have the time to be hyper-versed in the literature. But if you take a small chunk of time, explain your theory, I'll get it. Ultimately, the email chain and the pen time will allow me to have a clean flow. And I (and you) want that clean flow for me to render a decision we can all be happy with.

So what are we looking at to secure my ballot. I'm a rubber meets the road kind of guy. I look for impacts. I expect engagement. I typically don't pull the trigger on T. I find most T arguments un-compelling if even my uneducated self knows about issues the Aff is bringing up. And in a world of disclosure, I am guessing most people know what's going on. This isn't to say I don't vote on T, but my bar is high. I'm open to pre-fiat arguments. I'm fine with considering RVIs. I'm fine with CX during prep if both competitors are ok with it. I don't mind audience members, but I will clear the room if I find the audience being disrespectful, or trying to cheat a glance at my ballot.

My RFDs in round are short, focus on the major voting issues, and are not open to cross examination by students or their coaches. I will write my more detailed thoughts out on the e-ballots prior to the end of the tournament.

Finally, I'm not going to be hurt by how you pref me. I'm going to do my best to do right in the round. One will agree with me. One won't. That's the nature of the game. But the sun will rise on the morn regardless of how you pref, or how I vote.

I am judge for Douglas McKay High School.

I am still new to judging and ask for your patience if there some rules I am missing or errors I make.

Depending on the event I am placed in, I primarily make my decisions on coherency, organization, and significance. I am someone who values content and good analysis/interpretations.

I will always try to give competitors lengthy feedback on what I like, what I saw, and what I think can be improved upon.

Regardless, I try to remain open-minded and respectful for I know I can definitely learn from those I am judging.

Include me on the evidence chain: myhre_joshua@salkeiz.k12.or.us

I have experience with several different kinds of debate, including policy, LD, public forum, and parli. I debated in policy throughout high school and some in college.

I am out of practice with flowing speed. There's not a lot of fast policy debate in my region. I appreciate slowing down and clear articulation on taglines as well as theory/framework arguments. I'll say "clear" twice and then stop flowing if you don't oblige.

I am willing to listen to any form of argument - I have no particular bias against kritiks or any kind procedurals.

Topicality - I have a bit of a higher threshold for voting on topicality. If you want to go for T then it needs to be a substantial part of your 2NR. I prefer competing interpretations but will default to reasonability unless you clearly articulate your impacts.

If you want to make theory an argument, I'm willing to listen. I can be convinced that conditionality is either good or bad depending on what happens in the round.

I tend to think K's are okay, although most debaters can never really tell me what the alt actually does. If you want to make a framework argument, then go for it.

Good impact analysis/comparison is essential for me to make an good decision.

Extra speaker point for whoever can make the most clever Dune reference.

Extensive Policy experience on the national circuit in high school and college (Lewis & Clark). A prior participant and judge of Parliamentary, IE's and other speech events and activities. Related moot court experience and a practicing trial lawyer. It has been many years since I last participated in organized speech and debate events.

For speech events, I am looking for both verbal and nonverbal presentation, with clear tone and voice modulation. For most speech events, I want to hear and see your passion about the topic you selected and why you are choosing to share it with me. Clear structure is important in all speech event.

For debate I am used to the speed of a courtroom and not a spread round today. I can tolerate fast rounds, but it is not my preference particularly when the presentation lacks clarity. I prefer my own flow over receiving affirmative and negative cards electronically. If I want or need something at the end of the round, I will ask for it. If you want to share things with me, that is fine but understand it is my expectation that you will do the work to advance and articulate the arguments in the round and not by forwarding your arguments for me to read at the end of the debate. If I don't understand it or it has not been clearly presented, I will not consider it. I appreciate clearly articulated and structured arguments that are sign posted with clear transitions between major contentions, disadvantages etc. I set aside personal biases as much as possible and try to be a blank slate, to the extent that is truly possible.