OBSERVERS

The most popular competitions for families and friends to attend are the Mark Reitz Memorial Tournament in January (hosted by Lodi Mock Trial), the Regional Tournament in February, and the State Tournament in March.
If a friend or family member would like to attend a school-night scrimmage held at a different school, please let Mrs. Potter know so that she can notify the host school.

During the competitions, all participants and observers must promote and practice the ideals of good sportsmanship and show respect to the opposing team, observers, coordinators, judges, and other volunteers. Please be aware our team can be penalized for unethical conduct by our observers.
Observers are allowed to come in and out of courtrooms--even when the trials are underway--as long as their movement is not distracting to the performers. If possible, please try to enter or exit the courtroom during transitional periods taking place in the courtroom. The best times would be when a witness is getting on or off the witness stand, but not during an opening, direct, cross, or closing.

No one is allowed to talk to, text, signal, or communicate with students during trial. This rule remains in force during any emergency recess time that may occur.
If someone needs to contact a student during a competition, they can text Mrs. Potter, who will relay the message ASAP. Students can contact friends/family when the trial is over.

Coaches, alternates, and observers must remain in the spectator section of the courtroom. Only team members participating in the round may sit inside the bar and communicate with each other.
Team observers must sit behind their own team in the courtroom during the trial and NOT behind the other team’s participants. Seating may be limited in some courtrooms, but if there are any open seats behind the opposing team when the trial begins, we may fill in those empty seats.

All team members MUST ride school transportation to and from events.
Under special circumstances, students may ride home with their own parents with a signed release.
If a student wishes to ride home with a teammate’s parent(s), both sets of parents must contact Mr. Jelinek ahead of time for approval.

No Lodi Gear

At the Regional and State Tournaments, teams must remain anonymous to the judges; therefore, teams are referred to by a number throughout the day. For this reason, no one, not even spectators, can wear or bring any Lodi gear or clothing into the courtroom.

Metal Detectors

Most courthouses require security to operate the metal detectors during competitions. This often requires additional time for you to get into the building.

Competition Schedule

Each team competes in four trials, but we can't be sure when your child will perform. We aren’t told until minutes before each trial which side will present that round. It is possible that our team could play one side of the case three times.
An agenda with approximate times is given to us before the day of the competition. Know that these times are approximate and that a round could end earlier or later than estimated, thus causing subsequent breaks, lunch, rounds, and awards to be impacted by this shift in time either earlier or later. (Usually later!)

No Electronic Devices

IMPORTANT: During the tournaments, coaches, team members, and observers are prohibited from using any electronic devices, including any computer or phone of any kind, to communicate with anyone concerning the conduct of any trial round, including any information concerning the performance, presentation, members, appearance, or conduct of our own team or any other team. This prohibition applies to communication by blog, email, text message, Twitter, or in any other way on a computer, cell phone, or other device.
The only permissible use of an electronic device is to disseminate posted information (such as the location and time of a round).

No Spying

Team members, alternates, attorney-coaches, teacher-coaches, and all other persons directly associated with a mock trial team are not allowed to view any other teams' performances during the competition.