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17th ANNUAL COLORADO HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION

A. Local Tournaments

1. After registrations close, teams will be assigned to local tournaments based on both geography and local bar association resources. Some teams may be assigned to different local tournaments in order to create an even number of teams for the tournament. Each local tournament will advance its fair share of teams to compete in the state tournament. Fair share will be determined by calculating the ratio of the number of teams in the state tournament to the number of teams registered in the state. Each local tournament will advance that same percentage of teams to the state tournament. For example, if there are 72 teams registered statewide and a total of 18 advance to the state tournament that means 25% of a local tournament field will advance. Thus, if a local tournament has 13 teams, that tournament will advance 25% of its field, or 3 teams (25% of 13 = 3.25 or 3 teams) to the state tournament.
2. Minimum Number of Teams - A local tournament should have at least 6 teams registered with the CBA in order to advance a team to the state tournament. A tournament may be held with fewer than six teams at the discretion of the Committee. The CBA Law Education Committee reserves the right to determine the geographical boundaries for any local tournament as well as to determine the number teams local tournaments advance to the state championship tournament.
3. Minimum Number of Schools - A local tournament must have at least 2 high schools represented in order to advance a team to the state tournament. A tournament may be held with only 1 high school involved; however, such a tournament would not be allowed to advance a team to the state tournament.
4. Tournament coordinators are encouraged to structure their tournaments to include the following:
   1. 3 rounds of competition,
   2. An optional championship,
   3. A random first round draw, and
   4. Second and third rounds using power matching (based on wins and losses, ballots and points in that order).
5. Tournaments may be scheduled over a weekday, over a weekend or during weeknights in order to take advantage of local resources (e.g., judges, courtrooms and scoring panelists).
6. See Procedure 6, 7 and 8, pages 13 - 14, for composition of scoring panels, judging and scoring considerations.

   Tournament coordinators are encouraged to provide judge and scoring panelist training prior to each round in the tournament. Areas to emphasize include: scoring ranges and definitions, disputes, performance vs. merit scoring, technical vs. performance scoring.

7. Tournament coordinators should restrict attendance at the championship round to teams which will not be advancing to the state tournament.
8. Tournament coordinators are encouraged to send copies of score sheets to the competitors following the conclusion of their tournaments.
9. Tournament coordinators will notify the state tournament committee of the teams advancing to the state tournament and the number 1 seed from their local tournament.
10. Local tournaments must be scheduled to conclude no later than 2 weeks prior to the state tournament.
11. Tournament coordinators are encouraged to provide students with certificates of participation.
12. Tournament Coordinators must certify the teams they are advancing to the state tournament. Certification requires that teams provide the tournament coordinator with the roster of the team which will compete in the local tournament. It is recommended the teams do so upon appearing at the tournament. Following the tournament and only for those teams which advance to the state tournament , the local tournament coordinator will transmit the roster to the CBA Law Education Committee certifying that the same team which competed in the local tournament will compete in the state tournament with the same members.
13. All other things considered, local bar associations may deviate from these guidelines as required by limitations on local facilities and volunteer resources.

B. State Tournament

1. Maximum Number of Teams - 18 teams will advance to the state tournament. If a school/team chooses not to advance to the state tournament, the host of the local tournament will select the team next in line of succession to advance to the state tournament.
2. Maximum Number of Teams from One School - No more than 2 teams from any one school may advance to the state tournament.
3. The state tournament shall be conducted as follows:
   1. 3 rounds of competition followed by a championship round between the top two teams to determine the state champion.
      1. Round 1 will be random with the exception that local tournament #1 seeds will not be paired in this round.
      2. Round 2 and 3 will be power matched (using W/L, ballots and points in order).
      3. Championship Round - this round will match the two teams with the best records (W/L, ballots, and points in order) for the state championship and the opportunity to represent Colorado at the national championships.
4. The state tournament will be a two-day tournament, preferably Friday and Saturday. The preferred format is two trial rounds of competition on Friday afternoon, with a third trial round on Saturday morning.
5. See Procedures 6 - 8, pages 13 - 14, for composition of scoring panels, judging and scoring considerations. A larger panel may score the championship round.
6. Copies of score sheets will be mailed to the competitors following conclusion of the competition.
7. The state champion will be eligible to participate in the National High School Mock Trial Championship on Mother's Day weekend. If the first place team cannot participate, the second place team will be eligible. If neither of the teams can participate, the Colorado Bar Association will select a representative team.
8. Each state is allowed to send only eight students (six participating as witnesses and attorneys, and two alternates) to the national championship. The Colorado Bar Association will make a $3,500 donation to the team participating in the national championship to help defray travel expenses. However, the team and its school will be required to raise funds as well.