The adjudication process exists to ensure fairness, accountability, and integrity in competition. All concerns will be handled with transparency and due process, guided by the rights of both competitors and the tournament.
Consequences of Rule Violations
If a rule is found to have been violated, the consequences may include, but are not limited to:
Speech:
- Lower ranking in the room by the offending party.
- Disqualification from specific awards, events or advancement.
- Removal from the tournament in cases of serious misconduct.
Debate:
- Loss of speaker points by the offending party.
- Loss of the round.
- Forfeit of the round by the offending party.
- Removal from the tournament in cases of serious misconduct.
Note: Although the judge may or may not address the rule violation(s), adjudication decisions may override ballots when rules are violated.
Rights of Competitors
Competitors involved in an adjudication process are entitled to:
- Be heard in a timely and respectful manner.
- Bring up to two adults into the adjudication meeting. These may include a coach and/or parent/guardian to observe the meeting.
- Provide evidence including written statements, scripts, or witness accounts.
- Receive a clear explanation of the final decision, including any penalties assessed.
Rights of the Tournament
The tournament reserves the right to:
- Enforce rules to ensure a fair and educational environment for all participants.
- Conduct investigations into potential rule violations with discretion and impartiality.
- Apply penalties where warranted, even if the issue is not raised by a competitor.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding the details of deliberations to protect all parties involved.
- Communicate to students information regarding decisions.
- Station tournament staff or adjudication representatives in student rooms when necessary to ensure a safe and secure environment.
Adjudication Intake Procedures
- All adjudication requests will be reviewed by at least two adjudication team members to ensure balanced intake and minimize bias.
- Initial inquiries must be made within 30 minutes (if possible) of the round end time to ensure the tournament runs on time.
- The initial intake is fact-finding and will not include final judgments.
- Final decisions will be made after careful consideration of statements, evidence, and any applicable rules.
Room Monitoring and Staff Presence
- The tournament reserves the right to station adjudication or tournament team members in students’ competition rooms for oversight during rounds.
- This policy is in place to promote safety, protect integrity, and respond swiftly to concerns.