I'm a pretty lax tab judge. I did policy for three years in high school, and I am currently a Parli debater at the University of North Dakota (GO SIOUX), so I've been around the block and I'll hear out any argument. Though when I say that, you had better warrant those damn arguments, or I'm gonna pull out my hair. And your gonna lose speaks, or worse, the round. Kritiks are fine, don't assume I know all the literature, and don't assume that I have any ideological biases towards any of the literature. You're gonna have to do the legwork on impacting and weighing all the non-quantifiable impacts, if you do you will probably win me over.  I do have a soft spot in my heart for T args, and most framework for that matter, just make sure you can showcase abuse, or I'm probably not gonna be persuaded to vote for you. If you can make me care about or enjoy the round, you're gonna get higher speaks, so defintely plan on referencing Fetty Wap at least three times ;^)

I consider myself a traditionalist. Lincoln-Douglas debate was created for a reason. The intent of debate is to facilitate communication, therefore use of speed should not be the emphasis in this activity. A good litmus test is the following...would Abraham Lincoln have used spread during his debate with Stephen Douglas? No? Then you probably shouldn't either. Exchange of ideas, discussion of which value is superior, respect and civility should be of paramount importance. Analysis and organization is extremely important. The debater in front of me should explain why their analysis is superior and why their value defeats the opposition.

As I noted above, the intent of debate is to facilitate communication. Speakers need to remember, and this is extremely important, that communication is not only about speaking, but it is also about listening. I have seen it happen more times than I can count, that your opponent will give you information to flip against them in the round, and that flip is not utilized. The tough part is identifying that information. Do not be constrained by what is obvious, meaning do not be afraid to ask "what if". Lateral thinking therefore, is incredibly important to consider.

Further, I consider myself a pragmatist. Originally, Lincoln-Douglas debate was designed as a values-oriented platform. This has evolved into a policy-values hybrid so while I will look at a round from a purely values perspective, the values and values criteria have become more of a means/end assertion. The use of real world links and impacts should support your decision. If you are able to demonstrate why your real world analysis/evidence supports your values/values criteria and you set that parameter up front, I will strongly consider that as a voter. I would however note the following:: the links to your impacts are absolutely critical to establish in the round. Off time roadmaps are also important. Organization is absolutely critical. It is your responsibility to tell me where you are on the flow.

Impact calculus is one of the major concepts I will weigh in your round. That is an incredibly huge point to remember where I am concerned as a judge. However, it is important to consider the nature of the impact. This is where the aforementioned links come into play. Of further note, since LD has become a hybrid, I buy off on solvency being an issue as a means to justify the resolution. Those of you who have had me before as a judge know why that statement alone can determine an entire round. In short, back to the point on the "what if" issue I broached earlier, that would be a very good place to start.

I also look at framework. If you are going to run something out of the norm...i.e. counterplan, Rights Malthus, general breakdown of society, etc., you need to make sure your links are airtight, otherwise I will not consider your impact. The two would operate separate of each other if there is no link.

I started my involvement in LD in 1982, I also debated policy from 1980 to 1982, competed in speech from 1980 to 1984, and competed at the college level in the CEDA format in 1985 and from 1988 to 1990, and have been judging since 2014 in the Spokane, WA area. I also judged policy in the Chicago, IL area in the early 1990"s.

In terms of the January/February 2024 LD topic on reducing military presence in the West Asia/North Africa region, I have very unique experience and perspective. I am retired military, retiring in 2014 and having served 4 years active duty in the Navy and 16 years in the Washington Army National Guard including a one year deployment to Iraq from 2005 to 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I saw first hand the effect of what many of you may try to argue. I also attended many briefings from subject matter experts prior to going in country, including geopolitical/economic briefings, etc. I do consider myself a bit more well versed than many judges in this field based on my personal experience. In short, examine your argumentation and analysis carefully. The bigger picture is a major area of focus and as the semester progresses, you will begin to see adjustments based on the feedback you are getting.

A couple of administrative notes. Eye contact is really important if for no other reason, to see how much time you have left. One of my biggest pet peeves is cutting off your opponent during CX. I have no problem annotating that you did so on your ballot so your coach can discuss the matter with you after the tournament. Civility and decorum are important, and I can surmise several of you have had this happen to you. I also do not have a problem with you timing yourself or sharing evidence, provided it does not detract from the overall use of time in the round.

Finally, it is extremely important to remember....this activity can be fun and it will help you in ways you can't even imagine later down the road. Everyone at this tournament, whether they are coaches, judges, your peers, etc...started as a novice. Bad rounds happen. They are a part of the landscape that is debate. This teaches an important life lesson. How do you bounce back from adversity? How do you apply what you have learned to make things better next time?

Remember that the case/argumentation you start off with at the beginning of the semester, will not be what you end up with at the end, provided you do a self assessment at the end of each round. Ask yourself what was supposed to happen. What did happen? What three things went well for you. What three things happened to you that are opportunities for improvement. If you are consistently applying these criteria, and using your coaches/opponents/peers as resources, by default your weaknesses will get shored up. Incidentally, this is a really good life skill as well and can be applied in the real world. Good luck to you going forward!

My paradigm is pretty clear; however, most competitors fail to adhere to it, which baffles me a little. Anyway, I have competed in varsity LD debate for two years and have judged for three years. My paradigm is as follows:

Logical Consistency: I heavily emphasize framework, meaning value, value criterion, and grounds (R/A). I want to see your value explain explicitly why you believe one side of the resolution or another. The criterion is meant to compliment and support said value as a weighable standard that provides an advantage to you. Supported by your contentions, I want everything to revolve in a logical circle so I as a judge can objectively evaluate your case and understand why you think the way you do on the resolution. Hence, the terms logical consistency. 

Progressive vs. Traditional LD: I am more than fine with either form of debate style. I have grown up to be extremely good with traditional when I was in high school, often only losing to progressive cases. However, I concede that progressive LD is the evolving style of debate and I respect that. Feel free to run any kritiks, counterplans, theories, and topicality arguments you wish. Just please make sure they're relevant. The January/February 2016 resolution is about gun control for example, so I don't want to hear eco-feminism K's or anything like that on this topic. I will not flow it...even if your opponent drops it. Be warned.

Flow: In addition to the progressive LD preference, I don't mind speed in the slightest. However, please slow down and emphasize on contention taglines, card authors, and dates of publication. If you're moving from one card to the next with either internal links, impacts, etc., please say the keyword "next" so I know you're moving to carded evidence rather than analytical arguments. I am not a flow judge by any means, but if the flow gets so muddled that I don't recognize any signposting in regards to contentions or cards, I will put my flow paper down, write out my RFD, and go on my phone. Especially at the varsity level, you do NOT want me doing that.

Anything beyond that, feel free to ask and I'll elaborate before the 1AC. So good luck...

"And may the force be with you." - Hillary Clinton, 2015 ;)

I am a traditional LD judge. A Value and Criterion centered debate is what I’m looking for. Progressive styling will be allowed as long as you verify with your opponent pre-round. The flow matters; explain why your arguements mean more to the round as it’s happening.

I am a traditional LD judge. A Value and Criterion centered debate is what I’m looking for. Progressive styling will be allowed as long as you verify with your opponent pre-round. The flow matters; explain why your arguements mean more to the round as it’s happening.

The most important thing is clarity and communication skills. I look for strong evidence with a strong link to your contentions. I like analytical analysis to go with your evidence. I do not like critical arguments or any jargon. Please be respectful and enjoy your round. 

I end to be a tabula rasa judge, in that I go into the round with no bias. I like it when you explain your position and weigh it against your opponent. My views on arguments are listed below.

POLICY

Arguments:

• Kritiks- Totally okay. I ran them when I was in debate and they can lead to some of the most intricate and interesting debates. However, DO NOT assume that I have read the source material, to win with a kritik, the team MUST explain their kritik and what it means in the context of the round.

• Framework- Framework debates go hand in hand with kritiks. I value framework as it tells me how exactly I should measure the arguments in the round and makes it a lot easier to judge a debate. 

• Counter-plans- I enjoy counter advocacy. To win a counter-plan in front of me the neg should weigh it against the plan and show that it is better.

• Disadvantages-The link story is vital and should be extended throughout the debate and explained in the 2NR. Make it make sense.

• Topicality- I feel that T has become a null point in most the debates that I have judged. However, do not let that discourage you, if the aff is not topical, then by all means run T.

• Stock Issues- Know them. Love them. A Policy affirmative must: Solve for something, show you avoid Harms, be Inherent, conform to the Topic, and be Significant. I value these on the same level as topicality, they are part of debate, but there are ways to avoid them (k-affs)

• Theory- I have a high threshold. If you run theory it must be more than just you whining that they are cheating. EXPLAIN WHY IT MATTERS.

LD

Arguments-

• Value- What does your case uphold? I feel that this is naturally a part of LD and should probably be in the first speech of either side

• Value Criterion-How do I determine if you are upholding your value? I feel that both sides should argue that their value criterion is the best, and/or that they uphold both value criterions better than their opposition.

• Resolutional Analysis- This to me is the framing of the round, it tells me how to view the round and what each side must do to win, Since I tend to be a tab judge and like easy choices, I really like if at least one of the teams has a resolutional analysis. If both sides have one, please argue that yours is better and explain why.

• Contentions- I have no bias. Point out why yours are better and why your opponent's are not.

• Progressive LD- Even though this is not an argument, I feel that I should state my views on it. I have no bias. If you want to speed read and talk about kritiks, go for it (please read below for my policy on clarity). Even though I am not against it, that does not mean that I believe it is the way that LD should be debated, by this I mean that I could be persuaded by a 'progressive LD bad' theory argument. I will say that I do tend to have a high threshold for this type of argument though.

Public Forum

Arguments-

• Resolutional Analysis- This is how the round is supposed to be valued. Please see LD for more information.
• Contention- Same as LD and Policy to some extent. This is how I can compare your advocacy to the advocacy of the other team. I like if you debate your opponent's contentions
• Progressive- See LD. If you want to turn PF to policy be prepared to confront arguments against it. If you want to say that progressive is bad PLEASE explain why it matters in the scope of the debate.

Explain all arguments and why they matter in the debate space. Impact calc is one of my favorite things, tell my why doing what the opposing team says is bad. I like it when the neg has counter advocacy(for policy), but it is not required to win the ballot. Each team should spend their last speech explaining why they should win the round.

Speed is okay, but you must be clear. With this I must be able to at least understand your tags.

Please explain any lingo that you use. DO NOT assume that I know what your terms mean.

Tag team cross-x is okay.

I will take away speaker points if you are mean, and award them if you have sass.

I would consider myself more of a traditional judge because I do place most emphasis on the framework arguments but I can deal with kritiks, theory arguments, etc. as long as you sufficiently explain and understand the theory you're arguing. If you do it wrong, I'll know, I'm a political science minor so philosophy is my thing. Arguments that hold the most weight with me are the ones backed by real word examples, or even better, quantifiable evidence. Quantification makes it easiest for me to conceptualize your arguments and makes it easier for me to vote you up. You can spread as along as you are clear enough for me to understand, otherwise I will not even try to understand you and stop flowing. Any other questions, feel free to ask!