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Thank you for your interest in judging the Sherman Minton Moot Court Competition. We welcome the participation of our alumni and other members of the legal community as a way both of staying in touch with the Law School and of enriching the legal education of today's law students. Our visiting judges are of utmost value to today's students.
To sign up to judge, please e-mail judges@indiana.edu; call one of our Executive Judge Coordinators, Sarah DeVito at (317) 407-0843, or Kasie Gorosh at (248) 396-3273; or write to us at:
Sherman Minton Moot Court BoardFurther information on judging is provided below.
How do I sign up to judge, if I haven't already?
We're excited that you are interested in judging! Please e-mail us at judges@indiana.edu or use our online registration form. We will return your call or respond to your email within two business days.
What does a Competition Judge do?
As a Judge, not only do you get to meet distinguished legal professionals and alumni from around the country, but you also will have an influential role on young law students and soon-to-be graduates. The duties of a judge are serving as a member of a three to four person panel for student oral arguments. Students will present opposing sides in a case heard before a federal circuit court of appeals. Judges listen to the arguments and pose questions to test the strength of the student's logic. Some questions may help students in articulating an argument, other questions may challenge application to a new fact pattern.
After competitors have presented, judges will evaluate the competitors' performance and have an opportunity for informal discussion with students. You will not read the actual briefs written by the competitors, but you will be given a "bench memo" written by the Moot Court Board to help acquaint you with the issues.
How long does each Moot Court session last?
Oral arguments for the Octofinal, Quarterfinal, and Semifinal rounds begin at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on weeknights and Saturday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 12 p.m. Judges will evaluate the competitors' performance and have an opportunity for informal discussion with students after each round. Each student argues for fifteen minutes; a complete session, including judges' comments, takes about 1 hour. Judges are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes before each session.
How can I view the spring competition problem?
Read the Spring 2012 Problem. If you have signed up to judge, we will also send you a copy of the spring competition problem and the bench memo by either U.S. mail or by e-mail, according to your preference.
Should I plan to judge at all the sessions on weeknights?
We appreciate any time you can offer to judge the competition. It is extremely helpful to have judges stay for multiple sessions on a given day. Many judges have found early rounds so enjoyable that they did not want to leave. Please consider staying to judge a couple rounds!
Do I need expertise in any particular subject area in order to judge?
No; we have found that having judges from diverse legal backgrounds greatly enhances our Competition. Whatever your field of practice or experience, your service as a judge will be a tremendous benefit to our students. Judges are sent a bench brief before oral argument that concisely outlines the current applicable law and suggests questions for each side. While the bench brief, plus the Competition Problem itself, provides all of the information that you will need to judge, Board Members are also available to answer any questions that you might have about the topic or the scope of the issues in advance of arguments.
What if I have worked with, or am related to, a participant in this year's Competition?
You may still judge in the Competition if you have worked with or are related to a student participant. However, please provide us with the name of the student, and we will ensure that you are not assigned to that argument.
How do I know when I am going to judge?
Once you contact us to arrange a time, we will send you a confirmation e-mail or letter confirming the date and time of your participation.
Can I arrange to judge with my friends or colleagues?
Absolutely! We are happy to schedule you to judge with your friends or colleagues. Email us at judges@indiana.edu and let us know with whom you would like to judge.
Where can I park when I come to judge?
You may park in the parking lot directly across from the Law School if you arrive after 5:00 p.m. You are also permitted to park on the street after 5:00 p.m.
Where should I go once I get to the Law School on the night of my argument?
Take the elevator or stairs to the "Judges' Reception Room" (the Faculty Lounge) on the Third Floor of the Law School. Please plan to arrive at least fifteen minutes in advance of your round. You may leave coats, briefcases, etc. in the Reception Room during your argument. If you have brought guests who choose not to attend the argument itself, they are welcome to relax and enjoy refreshments in the Faculty Lounge during the arguments as well.
Will I have time for dinner?
Appetizers, desserts and drinks will be provided in the Judge's Reception Room. We encourage you to come enjoy the food and meet members of the Moot Court Board and first year students serving as bailiffs for the competition.
What if I am from out of town and would like to spend the night in Bloomington?
We can help you plan your trip and stay with hotel and travel information.
If you would like help making hotel reservations, or have other questions about your trip to Bloomington, please feel free to contact our Alumni Relation office at (812) 855-9700, or lawalum@indiana.edu.
In the spring rounds, competitors will be arguing alone, against a single opponent. Thus, each round will consist of one Petitioner’s' attorney vs. one Respondent’s' attorney.
Students wrote their briefs on their own and each student is responsible for arguing the case in its entirety. While students may choose to focus on particular issues during their arguments, they should be prepared for questioning on any aspect of the Problem.
Each round, including judges' comments, will take approximately one hour, with two fifteen-minute student arguments, followed by the judges' comments.
Each round is supervised by a member of the Sherman Minton Moot Court Board, who will greet judges in the Faculty Lounge before the arguments. When it is time for arguments to begin, the Board member will escort the justices to the "courtroom." As the justices enter the courtroom and assemble behind the bench, the bailiff will advise those present to rise and declare the court in session. At the conclusion of the bailiff's statement, the "Chief Justice" should instruct those present to be seated.
Each individual argument is fifteen minutes. Counsel for Petitioner may—but need not—reserve up to five minutes for rebuttal. If a competitor decides to reserve time, then he or she will inform the bailiff before arguments begin. Thus, counsel do not waive rebuttal by failing to ask the justices orally to allot rebuttal time. The bailiff will time each argument and hold up cards indicating when a competitor has five, three, and one minute(s) remaining. When a competitor's time has expired, the bailiff will stand and hold up a "stop" card.
At the conclusion of arguments—including any rebuttal—the Chief Justice should declare that "The Court will stand in recess," whereupon the supervising Board member will escort the competitors and audience out of the courtroom so the judges can deliberate on competitors' performance. After judges have completed the scoring sheets, they provide them to the supervising Board member, who then will invite competitors and audience members back into the courtroom so that judges may share comments with the participants while the competitors’ scores are being tabulated with their brief scores to produce a winner. At the end of the comment period, the Board member will hand the Chief Justice a slip of paper containing the winner’s name, which then should be announced to the competitors and any audience members.
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