Hello, my name is Tamara Townsend Faucette. I am an energy and environmental attorney. I really enjoy judging and am so impressed with the intelligence and professionalism of the competitors. Things I look for:

1) Energy- whatever side you are arguing, step fully into that role and persuade me that it is your preferred position. Often the passion and energy of a competitor shows their preparation and enthusiasm for the topic. Persuade me that you should win.
2) Responsive- Show your flexibility and depth of knowledge by specifically attacking your opponents case with logic and evidence.
3) Respect- A vigorous debate is encouraged but please maintain the highest level of professionalism and respect.

I have judged a lot of debate events. I do not mind spreading as long as I have a copy of the brief. If you plan to spread put me on the email chain.

I appreciate off-time roadmaps. Please do not spread during off-time roadmaps--that is a chance for me to understand your organization. Use words not lingo in your roadmap--it does not count against your time.

I do not like a ton of lingo or abbreviations, especially in policy debate. I understand the lingo but I would rather hear your analysis in full words not abbreviations.

Your debate experience will serve you well and build resilience. I hope you enjoy the process! Thank you, Tamara Townsend Faucette

I'm Katie Summers. In high school, I competed in Public Forum for two years and Poetry for one. This is my second year judging.

Disclaimer: This list isn't complete or perfect. Sometimes I discover preferences during rounds that I hadn't anticipated. I've done my best to cover everything, but I may overlook or not consider some aspects. I strive to be a fair judge, but I acknowledge I'm not infallible.

Debaters: I recently switched to studying Criminal Justice and learned that improperly obtained evidence can be excluded from court. Assuming many debaters are interested in law careers, I'm committed to enforcing the OFFICIAL NSDA rules of your debate format to better prepare you. If you reference rules, make sure they're the official and current ones.

While it's not explicitly against NSDA rules, avoid introducing new evidence after the summary. I find it problematic.

Any falsified or illegally obtained evidence will be disregarded if discovered. I cannot base my decision on it. Plagiarism may lead to losing the debate, but the opposing team must still present valid evidence and strong arguments to receive good speaker points.

In debates, I value clear, well-supported arguments with data and evidence. I discourage logical fallacies and typically won't reward them with high scores or a win, unless both teams are equally guilty — in which case, I'll often side with the team using them less or having stronger arguments overall.

Representatives/Senators:

Orators/Speakers/Etc.:

Info Presenters: I know you've already prepared your speech, so I'm giving you an idea of where I'll likely rank you.

I enjoy hearing fresh and intriguing information in speeches. It's okay to delve into controversial topics, but I expect a balanced presentation covering both sides if it's divisive. I prefer insights that go beyond what's just on social media and are well-researched.

Regardless of your topic, I'm not interested in your personal opinion or feeling like I'm being persuaded. This is about presenting information, not persuasive speaking. If I have significant unanswered questions by the end (like where your topic came from), your ranking may be lower.

General/All: I don't mind your speaking speed or if you use jargon or technical language in debates.

When you give a speech, I'll be focused on you and likely taking more notes during debates.

I prioritize strong arguments over style. Preparation and logical reasoning impress me more than charisma. While I appreciate passion, I prefer a logical approach over emotional intensity. Objective analysis is crucial for me to rank or award a win in speech and debate, though a blend of both can be most effective. Persuasive arguments earn higher speaker points from me, not necessarily smooth delivery.

Lastly, please show respect by not interrupting or laughing during others' speeches. Everyone deserves a fair chance to speak their mind here.

I am a parent volunteer. The rounds I have judged have all been speech; this is my first time judging debate. Please keep that in mind as you present. Please keep your delivery clear, do not spread. I would like to hear a clear analysis of why you should win during the rebuttals, and I will value a polite and educational debate.