For Debate:

I'm a traditional judge. Some speed is OK but talk TO me and not AT me. Don't ask for paradigms if you have no intention of following them. Cards are only evidence, but not the analysis, so be sure to make the link between the card and what it means for the argument. Keep all your debates separated; I like policy terminology in its lane, LD to have its value/criteria without plans, and PF to be for the common person. Fewer, better arguments win; smart questions and analysis do best. Clash is fun but should never be rude, mean, or at the expense of another debater. Treat everyone, including me as your judge, with the respect we deserve by coming into the round prepared, poised, and planning to do your best.

For Congress:

Please be prepared with speeches! It is important to me that debate not drag out while contestants "prep" during our time together. If you have nothing new to add, don't give a speech for the sake of giving a speech. Listening and reacting to each speaker is something I love to see. Pay attention; call on and call out those who you agree or disagree with in respectful ways. Clash is fun; mean-spirited debate is unappreciated. Show goodwill and your fierce competitive nature at the same time. Be sincere. Be organized and complete in your speaking. Be involved in the chamber's activities as much as possible, but do not dominate. Be absolutely correct with parliamentary procedure. Have a good time. Sources are a must, but a few good ones explained well are better than too many that muddy the speech.

For IE's:

Duo/Duet: I love a good story told well. I want you to follow the rules but show me your creative side. Take risks, but keep the author's intent in mind, i.e. Edgar Allen Poe is not meant as comedy. I want to feel something and be able when you finish to have nothing to say because what I have seen is entertaining, whether I laugh or cry. I don't need any warnings up front, but if you intend to shock me for shocking's sake, I will call you on it. In OO and Info, be sure to give examples, have great visuals, and tell the story in a clever and engaging manner. Be yourself! In extemp I want to be able to easily follow your organization. Justify by telling me why this 7 minutes matters to me. 5 sources or more; I don't care as much about the exact dates as you being able to synthesize the material. Don't make me do all the linking of ideas; I want to know that YOU are the one who knows and are excited to share. I look for clever and unique introductions and not canned AGD's. Whether you're a beginner or a 4-year veteran, keep it to yourself. Be humble and impress me with your stunning delivery and smart thinking on your feet.

Pretty much tab, I'll vote for practically anything if you explain it well and it's not racist/sexist/bigoted etc. Because of this, framework occupies an essential role in the round as it defines the debate space. Also, the cleaner you allow my flow to be, generally the easier time I'll have voting for you. Feel free to ask any specific paradigm questions.

A brief background: I was a competitor for four years at Keys High School. I participated in Policy debate between 2009-2012 and along with my partner was the State Champion in the 4A Division in 2012. I have also medaled at State in Standard Oratory and Foreign Extemp. He/Him

Extemp: The most important thing to me is that your speech is constructed well; I will vote for a well-organized speech with sub-par delivery over a well-delivered speech that seems to be written haphazardly. Having a solid preview-> view -> review structure tends to help with this. I like it when speakers clearly tie the introductions to their speeches to the main topic they will be talking about, and give a satisfying conclusion after their review. Signposting with phrases like "Now, onto my second point..." helps make it clear which of your points you are talking about. I also like it when speakers make a clear distinction between information that is cited evidence and information is their own analysis. Please tell me if you want your time signals going up (I show you how many minutes you have used) or going down (I show you how many minutes you have left).

CX: I lean towards being a Policymaker judge, meaning I look at the world both teams present to me and vote for the world I would more like to live in. That being said, I vote for what I see in the round and I like it when teams tell me the issues I should be voting on in the rebuttals. I don't handle spreading as well as some other judges and prefer it if speakers slow down at least for the slugs and citations on their cards. Brief roadmaps and good signposting (e.g. "Now, onto the topicality...") helps me flow and will make it much easier to vote for you. I appreciate it when arguments are well-organized and clear to understand. I am open to kritikal and theory-based arguments but will find it easier to vote for these things if you do a good job of convincing me why I should vote for them in your rebuttal speeches.

LD and other debate formats I am less familiar with but still appreciate when competitors clearly line out voting issues and give me solid reasons to vote for them in their rebuttal speeches.

Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions before the round. Competing is tough under normal circumstances and is made even more frustrating when having to deal with technology-based issues. Good luck!

I am a policy coach at heart with a stock issues/policy maker blend paradigm. I love on case (stock issues) clash in the 2NC. I don't like Ks, but if they link and the alt can't be permed, let's go. T arguments acceptable. Please do not cry abuse and then run 3 DAs. Either it is abusive and you couldn't prepare or the T needs a new voter. For other styles of debate, down the flow attacks and answers are always fun. Be calm, cool, and competitive.

Last updated: September 28, 2023

I believe in well constructed Affirmatives that are Prima Facia. I believe T is used as a generic argument to waste time. Unless the case is actually Untopical/Abusive, I won't vote for it. I like to see real world argumentation with real advantages/disadvantages. Unless you can actually tell me the closest we have been to Nuclear war, and that we are there now, I won't buy it. Let's see clash on the stock issues. I would much rather see you debate the actual topic rather than debate theory. This is Policy debate

Spread at your own risk. If I can't understand your points because you don't slow down and label contentions and points, how am I going to know where it goes on the flow.

I haven't met a K that I have voted for.

LD-I just want clash and a spirited debate on Values and points. I will flow everything in the round and use it in my decision making

PF-I want to see good clash of points with sound reasoning. And politeness in CX. If you are rude or barking in your Crossfire, it will probably reflect in your rankings

As for CX, I lean in the traditional direction of favoring well-researched and crafted AFFs that link to the topic, solve genuine harms and produce plausible advantages. NEGs need to produce offense and defense arguments, looking for clear on-case attax and Off-case flows with specific links and significant impacts and CPs that are competitive. T args are usually a waste of time with me unless NEG can prove serious abuse of the topic. I'll vote on the K if I can buy the Alt. I ask to see cards on regularly. As for speed, if it is clear, I can flow it, and if I can flow it I can weigh/judge it. I'll yell "Clear" once, and after that, if the speaker is unintelligible, I put down my G2.

In LD, I flow everything--even CX. I look for good Framework clash/comparison and weighing which V/C will carry the round. Contentions must clearly link to the FW, backed up by solid evidence. I'm looking for debaters who can cover both flows thoroughly and offer a clear, concise pathway to getting my ballot. Try to stay steady and organized. Present good voters and weigh them against your opponent. I will listen to progressive strategies if they make sense to me.

With PF, I flow it all, but I in all honesty, I am looking for the team that can articulate the best scenario, back it up with stellar evidence, speak with authority and avoid making CX a barking fest.