For email chains, please use kbertram@gmail.com

Debate background: I debated both LD and policy in high school and both CEDA and NDT in college. I also coached high school debate while in college and coached college debate while in graduate school. I have directed several tournaments of a public forum nature for embassies in Washington, DC. I now coach and judge for my daughter's high school team, so I have probably done at least some research and thinking about the topic. In my day job I design and publish historical board games.

My ballot is either an endorsement or rejection of the affirmative based on its (a) anticipated outcomes and (b) philosophical underpinnings. If the affirmative is not (reasonably) topical, then I lack jurisdiction to evaluate it and must vote negative.

I have a very strong preference for the probability of impacts over the magnitude of impacts. This is not to say I dislike big impacts, but you need a good link story to access those impacts. I am willing to assign zero risk to a disad if the links are just not there. I also find affirmative solvency to often be lacking - with the proper analytical and evidentiary presses, I am very willing to vote negative on "zero solvency."

I am very fond of counterplans but find that I lean affirmative on most theoretical issues. I find "counterplan solves better" a very compelling argument and can be in itself the net benefit.

As I noted above, the philosophical underpinnings of the plan are also an important consideration. An on-point criticism that engages with the plan can be very compelling to me. I am less interested in some kind of magical "alternative" that wishes away all the cares in the world.

QUICK UPDATE: As I am mostly judging more PF and LD these days, I am more than willing to listen to offbeat approaches to the topic - but you must engage with the topic. My strong preference is to not have to listen to theory debates and the burden for me to vote on something like disclosure theory is absurdly high.

FINAL NOTE: If allowed by the tournament, I will disclose my decision. I will not disclose speaker points.