THE 26TH ANNUAL UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO SCHOOL OF LAW NATIONAL CRIMINAL PROCEDURE TOURNAMENT

2014

COMPETITIONRULESREGULATIONS

  1. TheCompetition

TheUniversityofSanDiegoSchoolofLawNationalCriminalProcedureTournament(hereinafter “theTournament”)isan annualinterschoolappellate advocacycompetitiongovernedbytherulesset forthherein.

  1. TheCompetitionMaterials

ThematerialsprovidedanddistributedbytheUniversityof SanDiegoSchoolof LawMootCourtBoard(hereinafter “theMoot Court Board”)areexclusivelyforpurposesoftheTournament.By enteringtheTournament,eachschoolagreesthat the2014 National Criminal ProcedureProblem,Rules,andotherCompetitionmaterialswill notbeusedoutsideoftheTournament. The Problem will be released on September 9, 2014.

  1. TheCompetitionRules

Rule1.TeamRegistration

The Vice Chair of Tournaments and 2014 Criminal Procedure Tournament Coordinators (hereinafter collectively called “the Tournament Coordinators”) reserve the right to have a two-tiered registration period. The Tournament Coordinators have the sole discretion to decide whether invitations will be extended during different registration periods and which schools to extend invitations. TheTournament Coordinators alsoreservetherightnottodisclosewhichteamshavebeenextended different invitations.

Rule2.Numberand Compositionof Teams

a)TeamDefined.“Team”isdefinedasnolessthantwo(2) andnomorethan two(2)personssatisfyingthecriteriaenumeratedinparagraph(d)ofthissection.Eachsuchqualifiedpersonof aTeamshallbedeemedamemberofthat Team.

b)NopersonmaybeamemberofmorethanoneTeam.

c)There are only two (2) teams allowed per school.

d)StudentStatusRequired.NoTeammembermayholdalawdegree.Membersmustbematriculatedina full orparttimeJurisDoctororequivalentprogramatthelawschooltheyrepresent.

Rule3.Substitutionof TeamMembers

ThereshallbenoreplacementofTeammembersaftersigned affidavit is submitted. Ifacompetitorisunableto continue inthe competition,exceptionmaybegrantedwiththeexpresswrittenconsentoftheTournamentCoordinators. A team in a situation such as this must contact the Tournament Coordinators ASAP to have the situation considered.

Rule4.TeamCooperation

All research for the brief and brief writing shall only be conducted by the Team participant members listed on the affidavit and must be independent of any other Team. Teams representing the same school shall not work together on research and writing for the brief. After the brief is filed, Teams representing the same school may conduct practice oral arguments together.

Rule5.OutsideAssistanceand Coaching

a)FacultyorOtherAssistance.NoTeamshall receiveoutsideassistanceofanykindpriorto filingitsbrief.

b)TeamParticipation.Eachbriefsubmittedmustbepreparedbymembersofthat Teamunderwhoseentrynumberthebriefissubmitted.NooneotherthanthoseTeammembersmayparticipatein anywayinthepreparationofthat Team’sbrief.OnlyTeammembersshallperformbriefeditingand/orproofreading.

c)Coaching.OnecoachmayassistaTeamonlyinthepreparationofitsoralargument,except aslimitedbyparagraph(e)ofthissection. Thecoachmaybeastudent,a facultymember,oranadvisor.Coachesmay coachtwoTeamsfrom thesameschool.

d)“Scouting”Prohibited.Nomemberor coachofanyTeamstill participatingintheTournamentshallattendanypracticeorPreliminaryRound argumentsofanyotherschool’sTeam(s)orreceiveinformationfrom anypersonwhohasattended sucharguments. Coaches or other observers of the rounds may only watch the round containing the team they attend the Tournament with.

e)OralArgumentAssistance.Afterthebriefhasbeenfiled,Teamsmayreceiveoutsideassistanceinthepreparationoftheiroral arguments.However,thisassistanceislimitedtojudgingandcritiquingoralargumentpractices.Competitorsaresolelyresponsiblefor argument formulationandstrategy.

f)Sharing ofResources.Computertime,information,researchandprintoutsmaynotbeshared with any other Team at any point of the Tournament.

g)PracticingWithOther Schools’ Teams.Practiceroundswithotherparticipatingschools’Teamsareprohibited.

Rule6.Affidavit

EachTeammembermustsigna copyoftheaffidavitfoundontheUSDAppellateMootCourt Boardwebsite. The yAugust 26, 2014.

Rule7.Briefs–General

EachTeammustsubmiteitherapetitioneror respondentbrief.EachTeam will beassignedtowriteabriefforeitherpetitionerorrespondent.However, eachTeammustbepreparedtoarguebothsidesofthecasefororalarguments.

Rule8.Briefs–Format

a)Formand Length.

  1. Briefsmustnot exceedtwenty-five(25)doublespaced 8-1/2x11 inchpageswithone-inchmargins (excludingpage numbers). Briefs should be typed and justified. The font andsizeofthetextofallpartsofthebrief,includingthefootnotes,mustbeinTimesNewRoman12-point.Thetext ofallpartsofeachbrief mustbedouble-spaced,exceptthat thetext ofthe footnotes,headings and indented quotations maybesingle-spaced,but theremustbedoublespacingbetweenseparatefootnotesandbetweeneachheadingandthebodytext ofthebrief.
  2. The entire substantive body of the brief may not exceed twenty five (25) pages in length. The25pagelimitationdoesnotincludethecoverpage,tableof contents, tableof authorities, and issues presented. Pages must be numbered in the bottom center of every page, with the exception that the cover page should have no number. The table of contents, table of authorities and issues presented shall be numbered using lower case Roman numerals. Arabic page numbering begins with the statement of facts. The conclusion must be on or before page twenty five (25). Any partially filled page will be counted as a full page.

b)Brief Sections. A brief must contain, under appropriate headings and in the order indicated:

  1. A cover page; Eachbriefcovermusthavea color as follows:Petitioner:Blue and Respondent:Red
  2. A table of contents with page references;
  3. A table of authorities; authorities must be listed in the following pattern: cases (which must be alphabetically arranged), statutes, and other authorities. Each authority must include references to the pages of the brief where the authority is cited.
  4. A statement of the issues presented for review;
  5. A statement of facts relevant to the issues presented for review with appropriate references to the record;
  6. A summary of the argument;
  7. The standard of review;
  8. The argument;
  9. A short conclusion stating the precise relief sought.

c)BindingGuidelines.Hardcopiesofbriefsmustbebound,andmustincludea clearplasticcover and sturdybackcover,in additiontotheappropriatelycoloredcoverpage.

d)DefertoSupremeCourtRules.Excepttotheextentthat theruleshereinareinconsistent,theRulesoftheSupremeCourt oftheUnitedStateswill governtheformatofthebriefs.Thereneednotbea formalstatementofjurisdiction.TheRulesoftheSupremeCourt canbefound at

e)Unpublished Opinions.UnpublishedopinionsarenotbindingprecedentinthisCircuit.

f)Citations.Allcitationstolegal authoritymustbecompleteandintheform prescribedby thelatest editionofThe Bluebook:AUniformSystemofCitation.Citationstothefactualrecordmustconform tothefollowingformat: R.at[Page#]. i.e. R at 8.

Rule9.Briefs–Identification

IdentificationNumber.Neither the namesofTeammembersnorthe name of theirschoolshall appearwithinthebriefitself.Each Teamshall beassignedanidentificationnumberprovided bytheTournamentCoordinators.Eachbrief submitted mustbeartheidentificationnumberintheuppermostright-handcornerofthebriefcover,andmust clearlyindicateonits coverwhetherit issubmittedby PetitionerorRespondent.

Rule10.Serviceof Briefs

a)HardCopy.EachTeam mustsubmit itsoriginalbriefplustwo(2)identical copies(THREE TOTAL)totheMootCourt Board.The briefandthecopiesmustbepostmarkedbyOctober 17, 2014andaddressedto:

Universityof San DiegoSchoolofLaw

Attention:AppellateMootCourtBoard

NationalCriminalProcedureTournamentCoordinators

5998AlcalaPark

San Diego,CA92110

b)CopyRequirements.ThecopiesofthebriefrequiredbyRule10(a)mustbeidenticalreproductionsof theoriginalbrief.Theymustbereproducedbyanyduplicatingorcopyingprocessthat producesa clear blackimageon8-1/2”by11” whitepaper.All copiesmustbebound in accordance with Rule 8(b).Carboncopiesmaynotbesubmitted.

c)ElectronicCopy.EachTeamwill also submitoneelectroniccopyin portabledocumentformat (.pdf)ofitsbriefviaemailnolaterthanOctober 17, 2014 at5:00PM PST,tothe followingaddress:herformatswill beacceptedwithoutpriorapproval.The electronicallysubmittedbriefshouldbeonedocumentonly.Thesubjectlineof theemailmustcontaintheTeam’sdesignatednumber, andthebodyoftheemailmust containthenameofthe lawschool andTeammembers’names.Theelectroniccopies ofthebriefswill bepostedontheCriminalProcedureMootCourtCompetitionwebsitebyOctober 25,2014,to allowparticipatingTeamsaccess.

d)Changes ProhibitedAfterSubmission.Oncethebriefshavebeensubmitted,norevisions, supplementsoradditionswill beallowed.

Rule11.Plagiarism

Plagiarismofanykindwill resultinimmediatedisqualification.Anyuseof another’sworknotproperlyidentifyingthatsourcewithinthebriefisplagiarism.

Rule12.OralArguments–TimeandPlace

ThePreliminaryRoundswill takeplaceonThursday, November 6, 2014andFriday,November 7, 2014at theSanDiego SuperiorCourthouse*.The Round of 16 and Quarter-Final Round will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at the SanDiego SuperiorCourthouse.TheSemi-FinalandFinalRoundswill beheldat theJoanB.KrocInstituteforPeaceJustice(IPJ) at theUniversityofSanDiegoonSunday, November 9, 2014.

* Location of Preliminary Rounds is subject to change. Participants will be notified of any changes in Preliminary Rounds location.

EveryTeammust checkinwiththeTournamentCoordinatorsbeforethepreliminaryrounds at thetimeandplaceindicated.

Rule13.OralArguments–Competitors

Oral argumentsarelimitedtothetwomembersof theTeam.Onlythosemembersarguingmaysitatcounsel’stableduringtheargument.Nocoachesmaycommunicatewiththetwomembersduringtheoral argument.

Rule14.OralArguments-Numberof Arguments;Eliminations;Pairings

a)PreliminaryRounds:Therewill befour (4)PreliminaryRoundsinwhich eachTeamshallargue two (2) rounds as Petitionerandtwo (2) roundsasRespondent.Inno eventshallTeamsbepairedagainstthesameopponentforboth PreliminaryRoundsinthesameday.TheUniversityof San Diego Moot Court Boardshall,throughaseedingprocess, pair Teams.TheMootCourt Boardshallnotdisclosetheseedrankingsatanytime.

b)Round of 16:Thesixteen(16)highestscoringTeamsfrom the PreliminaryRounds shall advancetotheRound of 16.EachTeamwill argueonceduringtheRound of 16.TeamsshallbepairedbytheMootCourt BoardthroughaseedingsystemwiththeTeamwiththehighestcombinedPreliminaryRoundscore pairedagainstthelowestcombinedPreliminaryRoundscore.Ineachpairing,theTeam withthehighestcombinedscoreinthePreliminaryRoundshallarguethesideoftheirpreference.TheMootCourt Boardshallnotdisclosetheseedrankingsatanytime.

c)Quarter-FinalRounds:Theeight(8)highestscoringTeamsfrom the Round of 16shall advancetotheQuarter-FinalRounds.EachTeamwill argueonceduringtheQuarter-FinalRound.TeamsshallbepairedbytheMootCourt BoardthroughaseedingsystemwiththeTeamwiththehighestcombinedRound of 16score pairedagainstthelowestcombinedRound of 16score.IneachpairingtheTeam withthehighestcombinedscoreintheRound of 16shallarguethesideoftheirpreference.TheMootCourt Boardshallnotdisclosetheseedrankingsatanytime. TheQuarter-FinalRoundswill behead-to-headwithbriefscorenolongerfactoredintothescoring.

d)Semi-FinalRounds:Thefour (4)winningTeamsfrom their respectiveQuarter-FinalRoundshalladvanceto theSemi-FinalRounds.EachTeamwill argueonceduringtheSemi-Final Round.Teamsshallbepaired bytheMoot Court BoardthroughaseedingsystemwiththeTeamwiththehighestoral argument score from theQuarter-FinalRoundscorepaired againstthe Team with the lowestoral argument score from theQuarter-FinalRound.In eachpairingtheTeamwiththehighestoral argumentscoreintheQuarter-FinalRoundshall arguethesideoftheirpreference. TheMootCourt Boardshallnotdisclosetheseedrankingsatanytime.TheSemi-FinalRoundswill behead-to-headwithbriefscorenolongerfactoredintothescoring.

e)FinalRound:Thetwo(2)winningTeamsfrom theirrespectiveSemi-FinalRoundwilladvancetotheFinal Round.TheTeamsintheFinalRoundwill argueonlyonce,either asPetitionerorRespondent.TheTeamwiththehighestscoringoral argumentscorefromtheSemi-FinalRoundwill decidewhichsidetoarguefortheFinalRound.TheFinal Roundwill behead-to-headwithbriefscorenot factoredintothescoring.

Rule15.OralArgumentTiming

a)Oral argumentsmustbelimitedtoatotal ofFifteen(15)minutesperpersonperTeam.

b)Petitionersmayreserveupto five(5)minutesforrebuttalbydesignatingtothetime-keeperpriortothe commencementoftheroundsand requestingrebuttaltimefrom thejudgesduringtheargumentoffirstcounselforthe Petitionerandbeinggrantedthat timebythejudges.

c)If thePetitionersdonotfollowtheprocedurebyfailingto request rebuttal timefrom thejudges,notimewillbegrantedunlessthejudgespresentinthecourtroomdecidetograntsuchtime.Noappealwill beacceptedregardingproceduraldeficiencyon thepartofthepetitionersthatresultedin no rebuttaltime.

d)Therebuttaltimemaybedeductedeitherfrom thefirst orsecond counselforthePetitioner,butonlythecounselfrom whoseinitial argument rebuttaltimehasbeendeductedwill beallowed togiverebuttal.Thistimemaybewaivedbythe PetitionersfollowingthecloseofRespondents’argument. Counsel forPetitionerwill arguetheircaseinits entiretyat theoutset,followedbycounsel fortheRespondent.

Rule16.IdentificationProhibited

AlthoughcompetitorsmayeachidentifythemselvestotheCourt byfirstandlast name,theTeam’slaw schoolaffiliation mustnotbementionedatany timebefore,during,oraftertheoralarguments.In addition,noschoolfolders,letterhead,clothingorotherparaphernaliawithone’slaw schoolaffiliationistobepresentand/orwornatanytimeduringthecourseoftheTournament.Theserequirementsservetosafeguardtheabsoluteequalityof thejudgingprocessaswell assimultaneouslyensurethecompleteanonymityofthecompetitiveprocess.

Rule17.ContactwithJudges Is Prohibited

Allparticipantsareprohibitedfrom speakingwith thejudgesbeforetheirrespectiverounds and/ormentioningtheschooltheycomefrom atanypointduringtheoral argumentcompetitionrounds.

Rule18.Spectators

Spectatorsarepermitted toobservetheoral argumentofa friendorfamilymember.Spectatorsareprohibitedfromwatchingroundsinwhichtheirfriendor familymemberisnotparticipating.Teammembers arestrictlyprohibited from receivinganyinformationabout otherTeamsfrom anyone.

AllpreliminaryroundsspectatornamesmustbecommunicatedtotheCoordinatorsviaemail at y Monday, November 3, 2014, for placement on the Hall of Justice security guest list. The Moot Court Board will confirm that spectators have been placed on the guest list. Unconfirmed spectators will not be able to watch the Preliminary Rounds.

Rule19.Scoring–BriefScoring

a)ScoringCommittee.Anappointedcommitteewill scoreallbriefssubmitted.AnymatterservingtoidentifyaTeamoritsmemberswill beexcisedbytheTournamentCoordinatorspriortosubmissiontotheScoringCommittee.

b)Penalties.All briefsshallbesubjecttouniformpenaltiesforeachtypeofviolation,whichmaybeleviedwithfractionalpoints.

Rule20.Scoring–OralArgumentScoring

a)Weightof Briefsand Arguments.Theoral scoreshallbedeterminedbyapanelofjudges,without theknowledgeoftheTeam’s briefscore.Theoral score shallbe combinedwiththebriefscoreas set forthbelowtodeterminethePreliminaryandRound of 16scores.

b)RoundScoring.Scoresfor allcompetingTeamsduringthePreliminary,Quarter-FinalandSemi-Final Roundsshallbecomputedas follows:

PreliminaryRound

(AverageBriefScore)x.35

(AverageOral Score)x.65

Round of 16Round

(AverageBriefScore)x.25

(AverageOral Score)x.75

Quarter-Final Round

(Average Oral Score)

Semi-FinalRound

(AverageOral Score)

c)FinalRoundscores arecomputedsolelybasedon theoral scoresawardedtothe competitorsbytheFinal Roundjudges bench.

Rule21.CriteriaforAdvancement

Advancementinthecompetitionshalltakeplaceaccordingtothefollowingcriteria:

a)PreliminaryRounds:Approximatelythirty-six(36)TeamsarescheduledtocompeteinthePreliminaryRounds.The sixteen(16)Teamswiththetopscores as computedabovewill advancetothe Round of 16.Intheeventofatie, theTeamwiththehighestaverageoral score will advance.

b)Round of 16:Sixteen(16)TeamswillcompeteintheRound of 16. Theeight (8)Teams with the top scores as computed abovewill advancetotheQuarter-FinalRounds.Intheeventofatie, theTeamwiththehighestaverageoral scorewilladvance.

c)Quarter-FinalRounds:Eight(8)TeamswillcompeteintheQuarter-FinalRounds.TheQuarter-Final Roundswillbehead-to-head,sotheTeamthat hasthehigherscorethantheotherrespective competingTeamwilladvancetothe Semi-FinalRounds.

d)Semi-FinalRounds: Four (4)Teamswill competeintheSemi-FinalRounds.TheSemi-Final Roundswillbehead-to-head,sotheTeamthat hasthehigherscorethantheotherrespective competingTeamwilladvancetotheFinalRound.ThetwoTeamsthat donotadvancetotheFinalRoundwill berankedThirdPlaceandFourthPlaceaccordingtotheirQuarter-FinalRoundscore.

e)FinalRound:Two(2)Teamswill argueintheFinalRound.ThewinneroftheFinalRoundwill bedeterminedsolelyonoral scoresof theFinalRoundbenchjudges.TheTeamswill berankedFirst PlaceandSecondPlace.

Rule22.TournamentAwards

AttheconclusionofthepreliminaryroundsonNovember 7,2014,thefollowingawardswill begiven:

•Topfive (5)BestBriefforthePetitioner;

•Topfive (5)BestBrieffortheRespondent;

•Topten (10)bestIndividualOralistsinthePreliminaryRounds.

Teams must be physically present at the Awards Reception in order to receive their award(s). Awards will not be distributed after the Awards Reception unless the Team receives prior approval from the Tournament Coordinators.

AttheconclusionoftheFinalRoundonNovember 9, 2014,thefollowingawardswill begiven:

•First,Second,Third, and FourthPlaceTeams.

Aftertheconclusionofthecompetition,thefollowingwill bepostedontheofficialcompetitionwebsite:

•AwardsRecipients

•ListsofRoundof16Finalists

•Top10OralistsinthePreliminaryRound

Rule23.Discretionof TournamentCoordinators

a)Interpretationof Rules.TheUniversityofSanDiegoAppellateMootCourt Vice Chair of Tournaments and TournamentCoordinators havesolediscretiontomakeallnecessaryinterpretationsoftheseRules.NointerpretationoftheseRulesis validunlessobtainedinwritingfrom the Vice Chair or tournamentcoordinatorswhorepresenttheopinionofthe Board.

b)ApplicationofRules.TheUniversityofSanDiegoAppellateMootCourt Board Vice Chair of Tournaments and TournamentCoordinators havesolediscretiontointerpret andapplytournamentrules,to assesspenalties,ortodisqualifyanyTeamforfailureto abidebyanyofthe RulesoftheCompetition.

c)SubstantiveInquiries.TheUniversityofSanDiegoAppellateMootCourt Vice Chair of Tournaments and TournamentCoordinatorshavesolediscretionto answersubstantiveinquiriesconcerningtheProblem.

d)Request for Rule Clarification.A team may make a request for clarification or interpretation of these Rules. Any such request must be emailed by a team member or team coach with the subject line stating “Rule Clarification and the rule needing clarification. The Vice Chair of Tournaments and TournamentCoordinators will respond to requests by e-mail. All clarifications and interpretations will be posted on the USD Appellate Moot Court website at

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