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Competition Rules & Scoring
Last update: February 6, 2013.
The National High School Mock Trial Championship is governed by the Rules of the Competition and the National High School Mock Trial Rules of Evidence. Any clarification of rules or case materials will be issued in writing to all participating teams no less than two weeks prior to the tournament. The trial coordinator, upon the advice and consent of the Board of Directors of the National High School Mock Trial Championship, will distribute to each team any such clarification.
No host state may alter the language of these rules without the approval of the National High School Mock Trial Championship Board of Directors; however, the Rules of Evidence may be reviewed for relevance and rules may be added or deleted, so long as the language inserted is the original text contained in the Federal Rules of Evidence.
All teams are responsible for the conduct of persons associated with their teams throughout the mock trial event.
Click here for the NHSMTC, Inc. By-Laws (May 2008).
Rules of the Competition
I. Rules of the Competition (updated 8/26/11) (click here to see the full rules)
A. Administration
1. Rules (Rule 1.1)
2. Code of Conduct (Rule 1.2)
3. Emergencies (Rule 1.3)
4. Student Timekeepers (Rule 1.4)
B. The Problem
1. The Problem (Rule 2.1)
2. Witnesses Bound by Statements (Rule 2.2)
3. Unfair Extrapolation (Rule 2.3)
4. Gender of Witnesses (Rule 2.4)
5. Voir Dire (Rule 2.5)
C. Teams
1. Team Eligibility (Rule 3.1)
2. Team Composition (Rule 3.2)
3. Team Presentation (Rule 3.3)
4. Team Duties (Rule 3.4)
5. Team Roster Form (Rule 3.5)
D. The Trial
1. Courtroom Setting (Rule 4.1)
2. Stipulations (Rule 4.2)
3. Reading Into The Record Not Permitted (Rule 4.3)
4. Swearing of Witnesses (Rule 4.4)
5. Trial Sequence and Time Limits (Rule 4.5)
6. Timekeeping (Rule 4.6)
7. Time Extensions and Scoring (Rule 4.7)
8. Motions Prohibited (Rule 4.8)
9. Sequestration (Rule 4.9)
10. Bench Conferences (Rule 4.10)
11. Supplemental Material; Costumes (Rule 4.11)
12. Trial Communication (Rule 4.12)
13. Viewing a Trial (Rule 4.13)
14. Videotaping/Photography (Rule 4.14)
15. Jury Trial (Rule 4.15)
16. Standing During Trial (Rule 4.16)
17. Objections During Opening Statement/Closing Statement (Rule
4.17)
18. Objections (Rule 4.18)
19. Reserved (Rule 4.19)
20. Procedure for Introduction of Exhibits (Rule 4.20)
21. Use of Notes (Rule 4.21)
22. Redirect; Re-Cross (Rule 4.22)
23. Scope of Closing Arguments (Rule 4.23)
24. The Critique (Rule 4.24)
25. Offers of Proof (Rule 4.25)
E. Judging and Team Advancement
1. Finality of Decisions (Rule 5.1)
2. Composition of Judging Panels (Rule 5.2)
3. Score Sheets/Ballots (Rule 5.3)
4. Completion of Score Sheets (Rule 5.4)
5. Team Advancement (Rule 5.5)
6. Power Matching/Seeding (Rule 5.6)
7. Selection Of Sides For Championship Round (Rule 5.7)
8. Odd Number of Teams Participating
in Championship (Rule 5.8)
F. Dispute Resolution
1. Reporting a Rules Violation/Inside the Bar (Rule 6.1)
2. Dispute Resolution Procedure (Rule 6.2)
3. Effect of Violation on Score (Rule 6.3)
4. Reporting a Rules Violation/Outside the Bar (Rule 6.4)
II. National High School Mock Trial Rules of Evidence (click here to see the full rules)
(Version updated September 4, 2012)
Article I. General Provisions
Rule 101 Scope
Rule 102 Purpose and Construction
Article II. Judicial Notice (Not Applicable)
Article III. Presumptions in Civil Actions and Proceedings (Not Applicable)
Article IV. Relevancy and its Limits
Rule 401 Definition of "Relevant Evidence"
Rule 402 Relevant Evidence Generally Admissible; Irrelevant Evidence Inadmissible
Rule 403 Exclusion of Relevant Evidence on Grounds of Prejudice, Confusion, or Waste of Time
Rule 404 Character Evidence Not Admissible to Prove Conduct; Exceptions; Other Crimes
Rule 405 Methods of Proving Character
Rule 406 Habit; Routine Practice
Rule 407 Subsequent Remedial Measures
Rule 408 Compromise and Offers to Compromise
Rule 409 Payment of Medical or Similar Expenses
Rule 410 Inadmissibility of Pleas, Plea Discussions and Related Statements
Rule 411 Liability Insurance (civil case only)
Article V. Privileges
Rule 501 General Rules
Article VI. Witnesses
Rule 601 General Rule of Competency
Rule 602 Lack of Personal Knowledge
Rule 607 Who May Impeach
Rule 608 Evidence of Character and Conduct of Witness
Rule 609 Impeachment by Evidence or Conviction of Crime (this rule applies only to witnesses with prior convictions.)
Rule 610 Religious Beliefs or Opinions
Rule 611 Mode and Order of Interrogation and Presentation
Rule 612 Writing Used to Refresh Memory
Rule 613 Prior Statements of Witnesses
Article VII. Opinions And Expert Testimony
Rule 701 Opinion Testimony by Lay Witnesses
Rule 702 Testimony by Experts
Rule 703 Bases of Opinion Testimony by Experts
Rule 704 Opinion on Ultimate Issue
Rule 705 Disclosure of Facts or Data Underlying Expert Opinion
Article VIII. Hearsay
Rule 801 Definitions
Rule 802 Hearsay Rule
Rule 803 Hearsay Exceptions, Availability of Declarant Immaterial
Rule 804 Hearsay Exceptions, Declarant Unavailable
Rule 805 Hearsay Within Hearsay
Article IX. Authentication and Identification (Not Applicable)
Article X. Contents of Writings, Recordings, and Photographs (Not Applicable)
Article XI. Other
Rule 1103 Title
Scoring