Oral Arguments Spring 2020 Instructions for Judges How to join Final arguments will take place remotely on Zoom Please use the same link that you received by email today Please click on the link or enter the URL into your browser to join by 5:50 PM I have added a Waiting Room function, where students will be waiting before their start time It will be as if they are waiting in the hallway at the courthouse Once all the judges are settled, I will bring the first round of students into the main videoconference Please know that I have chosen the option to mute new participants You will need to unmute yourself once I bring you into the main videoconference Introductions Once the students are in the main videoconference, I will introduce the judges I will be clear on order of introductions and on who should be addressed as chief justice There will be seven people present: students, judges, bailiff, and instructor Starting Argument One of my intrepid TAs will serve as bailiff to bring us to order I will be muted throughout the argument unless some exceptional assistance is necessary I have asked the students to dress for court and to appear with the video on If possible, I would like the judges to participate with video on as well Asking Questions The students will expect your interruptions But because we cannot read visual cues on Zoom the same way we could in a courtroom, please preface every question with, “Counsel, I have a question.” Students know when they hear that cue to stop speaking and take your question You may find it best to mute yourself when you are listening to argument to eliminate any background noise or feedback, just remember to unmute yourself before you want to speak Scoring Students Once both sides conclude their arguments, I will pull students into a breakout room where they cannot see or hear the judges deliberate I will give judges up to five minutes to deliberate and fill out score sheets before bringing the students back into the main videoconference to receive feedback I must limit the feedback period to ten minutes, however, to keep all of us on schedule Please pick your best tips and development areas for each of the students Students will not earn a letter grade for this class Up until recent changes nudged all of us to teach and learn differently, this was a graded class and students have taken the work seriously I have promised them that I will score their briefs as if I were still giving letter grades I am still awarding best brief, best oral argument, and honorable mentions for Prof Teresa Wall-Cyb UC Hastings School of Law both brief and argument Even though your score sheets will not factor into a letter grade, I hope you will use them in the spirit of meaningful assessment I will send you a link to a Google form to use for scoring Please submit your scores and comments on that form during the deliberation time Welcoming the Next Round In the event we run long, we will not be interrupted by the next round of students because they will be in the Waiting Room until I bring them in I will once again introduce you and we will soon be underway What if? Zoom has been reliable over the past few days of remote teaching, but we can expect a technical difficulty or two Before joining the Zoom meeting, write down the meeting number and call-in numbers from the invitation I sent, and have the helpline number (1.888.799.5926) handy Plan to join ten minutes before argument begins so you can troubleshoot as necessary I recognize that everyone has varying audio, video, and internet capabilities If you lose your video, continue with audio If you lose your audio, your best to get back in the argument as soon as you can Have your cell phone ready with the call-in number to the meeting If it all goes downhill and we completely lose you for the rest of an argument, then we will graciously accept your best efforts I have told students that if they encounter technical difficulties during their oral arguments, they will still pass the class Finally, I realize all of us will be participating from home Home is different from court Of course, we will try to minimize the distractions that live at home, but if your dog walks by your camera, your doorbell rings, or your kids barge in (I may be hiding in my closet to prevent this), then we will carry on as if it were all part of the show We are so lucky to be able to teach and learn together this way I’m so grateful to have your support as guest judges Prof Teresa Wall-Cyb UC Hastings School of Law ... get back in the argument as soon as you can Have your cell phone ready with the call-in number to the meeting If it all goes downhill and we completely lose you for the rest of an argument, then... best efforts I have told students that if they encounter technical difficulties during their oral arguments, they will still pass the class Finally, I realize all of us will be participating...both brief and argument Even though your score sheets will not factor into a letter grade, I hope you will use