Twentieth Annual National Criminal Procedure Tournament

TOURNAMENT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When will the advancing competitors be announced?

The teams advancing to the Quarter-Finals will be announced at a reception on Friday night at approximately 10:30 p.m.  The teams advancing to the Semi-Final Round will be announced at approximately 11:00 on Saturday morning. The teams advancing to the Final Round will be notified immediately following the Semi-Finals, at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.  These will be the only announcements. No lists will be published.  As a result, if competitors are not present at the time the announcements are made, they risk not knowing their status in the Tournament.

Where will the announcements be made?

The announcement of the Quarter-Final competitors will be made at the reception following oral arguments on Friday night.   Semi-Final Round Competitors and Finalists will be notified at the University of San Diego, Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (IPJ).  Award winners will be notified during the reception at the IPJ.

How will advancing teams be identified?

Quarter-Finalists and Semi-Finalists will be identified by team number only.  First Place, Second Place, Third Place, Fourth Place, First Place Oralist, Second Place Oralist, Best Brief, and Second Place Brief will be identified by the competitor's name and school.

If we do not advance, may we still watch other competitors and participate in the nightly entertainment?

Everyone is welcome to attend the nightly receptions following oral arguments, regardless of your team's individual performance.  However, only those competitors who have not advanced may view the oral arguments of other teams and only if all members of the teams still competing consent to others watching them. 

Will the score sheets and briefs be returned to the competitors?

Score sheets will be returned, but only after the entire competition has ended. Although the judges will offer a brief critique of oral arguments following the Compulsory Rounds and Quarter-Final Rounds, no other information will be released in regards to scoring, and briefs will not be returned.  No critique of oral arguments will follow the Semi-Final or Final-Rounds. 

How will we know how our scores compare to those of fellow competitors?

While an overall ranking list will not be available, each competitor will be designated as a Participant, Quarter-Finalist, Semi-Finalist, or a First, Second, Third, or Fourth Place finisher.  In addition, awards will be given for the Best Oral Advocate based upon the oral scores of the Compulsory Round, as well as the highest scoring briefs for Petitioner and Respondent.  These designations and awards will be the only indications of performance. 

Where do I go to compete?

For the Compulsory Rounds on Thursday and Friday, please arrive at the downtown Courthouse and check-in (a map to the courthouse will be provided upon Tournament check-in).  For the Quarter-Final, Semi-Final and Final Rounds, please arrive at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice on the University of San Diego campus (directions to IPJ will be provided upon Tournament check-in).  A USD Moot Court Board Member will greet you and direct you to your room to prepare for your rounds. 

To whom do I direct questions?

All questions about the tournament rules or substantive questions about the problem must be directed to the tournament coordinators, Nicole Cusack and Maureen Abdelsayed, at SDCrimPro@gmail.com.