I am a parent judge with 5+ years of PF/LD/ Policy experience. Please consider me a Flay Judge.

• Speak as fast as you would like, but I will ask you to slow down if I cannot understand. No spreading please. I am fine with 15 seconds of grace time.
• Please be respectful of your opponents and give them a chance to speak. Do not keep interrupting or be rude or condescending. If not, I will drop your speaker points.
• Please do not read any form of progressive argumentation (theory, kritiks, etc.) as I cannot evaluate them and will not give you credit for them.
• Off-time roadmaps and sign-posting are encouraged. It helps me follow your debate better.
• My decision will be based on your contentions, evidence, rebuttals, impacts, summaries and weighing. I will evaluate all those on both sides to come to a decision.
• I like to see well-researched cases backed by strong and credible evidence. Please include me in the email chain to share cards as I like to review them as well.

Good luck and have fun!

Hi! For some quick background, my name is Arianna Contaldi and I'm currently a college freshman. I've debated for three years in high school, mostly focusing on Parliamentary and Congressional debate.

In competition I appreciate concrete evidence when citing an argument and prioritize factual evidence over hypothetical scenarios.

I'm also looking for well paced speeches (I know there is a limited amount of time but I won't be able to grasp the full argument if you're talking too fast), good clash (addressing the arguments against you and being able to prove why they are incorrect/why your side's argument prevails), and a set roadmap/ well organized speech or argument.

Finally, please be respectful toward your fellow debaters and have fun with your debates (it's great to see passion about the topic you're debating for)

'Kyle' or 'Judge' (he/him)

Program Director & Head Coach at Palo Alto High School
President of the National Parliamentary Debate League (NPDL)
ex-LD, OO @ Morse High School
ex-APDA @ Yale University

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SUMMARY

Experienced judge from a traditional background. I'm receptive to many arguments, styles, strategies, etc., but I'm less familiar with the progressive edges of circuit debate (e.g. performance, AFF Ks). I spend most of my time nowadays doing administrative work, so I probably don't know all the latest cards/norms/trends etc. in your event. I'll try to adapt toward the median judge of whatever tournament/event/division I'm judging, so you probably don't need to adapt drastically for me.

big-picture views:

• tech AND truth both matter; I think about the flow, not just record it
• better warranting & weighing wins almost all rounds in front of me
• jargon/speed are fine but often unnecessary, even counterproductive
• clarity is your responsibility; I won't vote for anything I don't understand
• kindness and respect are absolutes/non-negotiables

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PREFERENCES

best at judging/comfortable with:

• traditional topical case debate
• soft-left policy arguments
• critically-framed DAs/lay Ks

fine at judging/okay with:

• necessitated theory/T
• analytic philosophy
• hyper-technical LARP

bad at judging/uncomfortable with:

• non-topical/no-link Ks
• performance AFFs
• frivolous theory

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HOW I VOTE

I vote for whomever does better comparative weighing of well-warranted impacts about the main clash(es) of the round. Although technique generally determines truth, you're much better off making credible arguments. Since tournaments need judges to vote quickly and critique efficiently, I tend to vote for the side that was clearer to me.

I default to evaluating the topical case layer of the round first. If you want me to evaluate another layer first (e.g. theory, kritik), you need to prove why that layer should supersede – you don't automatically 'up-layer' the debate by making a non-traditional argument. In fact, the more 'progressive' the argument is, the greater your burden of proof is.

Speak clearly, SLOWLY and to the point. Make sure to clearly explain your arguments and support them with credible evidence. In rebuttals, clearly reference the argument you are refuting, and be sure to give a quick overview, or off-time road map, before your speech for clarity.

I am Nalini Krishnamurthy, Software Engineer .First time experience as Judge to Speech and Debate.

I am a parent judge and I have been judging events for the last 2-3 years.

For congress debate tournaments:

I look for clarity, speaking to the point, using floor space, eye contact, respect to other members. If you spread, talk too fast, run through impact parts too fast, I won't be able to keep track and will ignore them.

I try to focus and listen the entire duration of your speech. I write my feedback simultaneously as I listen to the speech. I also listen carefully to cross examinations, and will take account of every time you make a good point or defend effectively. Use your cross examination time effectively, I won't reward when there is a stalemate.

My decision is based on: framework, arguments, reasoning, evidence... Focus on why your impacts are important why they are better than your opponent. It would be good if you start out with specifics and then at the end you summarize.

Do your best!!!