I admire respectful communication; I appreciate style of delivery just as much as content; I don't prefer rapid fire facts prioritized over evidence of listening skills and active listening.

competitor 1986 - 1990

judge and coach 1995 - present

I am a traditional debate judge.

I do not like spreading in debate rounds. If your delivery is too fast or too unclear, I will not be able to flow vital information. If that information is not on my flow, I cannot make a decision based on it when you tell me that it is a voting issue.

I prefer clash, thoughtful logic, and clear weighing mechanisms in a round.

flow judge; debated pf for 4 years

PF preferences:

General Round Info:

• I value warrants more than evidence (This doesn't mean you shouldn't try to card your responses, however); every response and argument should have a warrant behind it.
• All turns should be weighed because they are independent reasons to vote for you.
• I will keep track of time, but I'm not too strict. You can go 5-10 seconds overtime in order to finish your last sentence.
• I'll only call for evidence if you tell me to AND if I think it's important to making my decision.
• Time your speeches! I'll time them too, but this helps you know what to cut out/add and how fast you should be speaking.

Case:

• Don't spread
• No friv theory, theory and progressive arguments are fine but I won't know how to evaluate them.
• I'm tech > truth. Even if what you say is blatantly false, but your opponents don't respond to it, it's considered true for the round.
• If you are running potentially sensitive arguments, please include a trigger warning.

Crossfire:

• Be respectful but also assertive.
• Any concessions in crossfire are binding
• Any concessions in cross must be brought up in speech in order for me to flow it
• When the time runs out, whoever is speaking can finish their thought (max 5-10 seconds more).

Rebuttal:

• Make sure to signpost and try to weigh as well.
• 2nd rebuttal should frontline and collapse.

Summary:

• Weighing is especially important in this speech (You should do the work for me in your speeches so I don't have to intervene).
• Make sure to be organized throughout the speech. You can do this by signposting as well as having a structure to your speech. Offtime roadmaps are encouraged.
• No new responses in 2nd summary.
• Defense is not sticky.
• Please extend your case.

Final Focus:

• Everything said in FF should have been in summary.
• Make sure to extend case and focus on weighing. (Look to the summary section for more specific information.)