National Speech and Debate Tournament

2025 — Des Moines, IA/US

Dustin Jackson Paradigm

Lincoln-Douglas
Lincoln Douglas Debate Judge Philosophy

Your experience with LD Debate (check all that apply)

Current LD coach
Current Public Forum coach or judge
Speech coach
Community judge

How many years have you judged LD debate?

2

How many LD rounds have you judged this year?

31-40

What is your preferred rate of delivery?

6/91 = Slow conversational style
9 = Rapid conversation speed
 

Does the rate of delivery weigh heavily in your decision?

N
 

Will you vote against a student solely for exceeding your preferred speed?

N

How important is the criterion in making your decision?

It is a major factor in my evaluation
 

Do you feel that a value and criterion are required elements of a case?

Y

Rebuttals and Crystallization

 

Voting issues should be given:

Either is acceptable
 

The use of jargon or technical language ("extend", "cross-apply", "turn", etc.) during rebuttals:

Is acceptable
 

Final rebuttals should include:

Both
 

Voting issues are:

Not necessary

How do you decide the winner of the round?

I decide who is the person who persuaded me more of their position

How necessary do you feel the use of evidence (both analytical and empirical) is in the round?

6/91 = Not necessary
9 = Always necessary

Please describe your personal note-taking during the round

I keep detailed notes throughout the round
Additional remarks: I enjoy both a traditional and a progressive approach to LD. I do not mind some speed in an LD case as long as there is clarity and I can hear the tags and impacts from evidence as well as the tags cross application when using them as refutation. I think that a winner can be decided on a key argument, framework, OR overall persuasion of a stance depending on the framing of the round.

Note: if you wish for your pronouns to appear the debaters you judge on text/email blasts, log into Tabroom, click Profile at top, and add them in the Pronouns field.