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Competition Rules and Forms

This page contains all of the official rules and forms that govern the American Mock Trial Association competitions.  Each of the documents will be updated on this site as new versions are created and approved for use by the AMTA Board of Directors.  Please check back regularly to ensure that you have the most updated version of these documents.

Competition Rules

Rulebook - last updated ​​September 2023

  • The Rulebook contains all rules and policies that govern AMTA competitions, the competition structure, board membership, sanction policies, and membership requirements among other things.  The Rulebook is traditionally updated semi-annually following the AMTA Board of Directors Meeting (July) and the AMTA Mid-Year Meeting (December).  If you have any questions about the rules that govern AMTA competitions, please contact Elizabeth Smiley, AMTA Rules Committee Chairperson.

Tabulation Manual - last updated ​​July 2022

  • The Tabulation Manual contains all procedures for scoring and pairing AMTA competitions.  The Tabulation Manual is used by AMTA Representatives at each AMTA-sanctioned tournament to determine the pairings for each round of competition.  The Tabulation Manual also contains procedures to determine the winners of AMTA-sanctioned competitions, including tie-breaking procedures.  The Tabulation Manual is traditionally updated semi-annually following the AMTA Board of Directors Meeting (July) and the AMTA Mid-Year Meeting (November).  If you have any questions regarding tabulation procedures or the Tabulation Manual, please contact Diane Michalak, AMTA Tabulation Director.

Midlands Rules of Evidence - last updated ​September 2021

  • This document contains the version of the Rules of Evidence that are used in AMTA competitions.  While these rules are based off of the Federal Rules of Evidence, they are tailored to meet the needs of an AMTA competition.

Competition Forms

Judge Presentation (PPT) (2024 ORCS Version)

  • This is the presentation used to orient judges in the Judges' Meetings at AMTA-sanctioned competitions.  The PowerPoint is used in each Judges' Meeting before each round of AMTA-sanctioned competitions.  Any questions regarding the AMTA's judging documents should be directed to Elizabeth Smiley, AMTA Rules Committee Chairperson.

Competition Integrity Committee (CIC) Opinions and Forms

  • CIC NCT Advisory Opinion Request Form
    • The CIC will be accepting advisory opinion requests until Friday, March 29, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET. Any requests received after this deadline will not be considered for the issuance of advisory opinions.
  • 2023-2024 CIC Opinions (Released ​Jan. 27, 2024)
    • This is the CIC Advisory Opinion Request Form, which should be used to submit an issue to the CIC before the AMTA season begins in February to receive advisory opinions from AMTA about potential invention of fact issues. 
    • 2022-2023 CIC Opinions - For informational purposes only, no longer binding.
  • 2024 Notice of CIC Regionals Penalties
    • The CIC has released public notices of all penalties and warnings issued for the 2024 regional tournaments. The summary document may be found both linked with the case materials, as well as the Rules and Forms page.
  • CIC National Championship Tournament Review Procedure
    • The CIC has released a document outlining the procedures for in-tournament review at the 2024 National Championship Tournament. Please note that all participating teams must designate two rostered competitors to serve as Team Designees for purposes of making and responding to any requests for in-tournament review.
  • CIC Round Outcome Complaint Form
    • If the complainant team would like to be eligible for a remedy that would involve a change in scores, ballots, or round outcome, then they must complete a notice of complaint form by 11:59 pm Sunday of their Regional or ORCS local time.
  • CIC Post-Tournament Complaint Form
    • For every complaint, the complainant team must submit a formal complaint form by 4:00 p.m. Central the Monday after their Regional or ORCS. Teams are asked to submit photos or scans of the relevant ballots and if there is video, to provide it to the CIC via email.
    • After the Monday at 4:00 p.m. Central deadline, the CIC will contact respondent teams and they will have 48 hours to respond with a completion of the same formal complaint form found above.  
  • For more information on what is appropriate to submit to the CIC, please contact Toby Heytens, the CIC Chairperson.

Timekeeper Sheet (Online Version)
Timekeeper Sheet (In-person Version)

  • This document is the timekeeper sheet that is used at an AMTA-sanctioned competitions.  Per AMTA Rules, each team is required to provide their own timekeeper at an AMTA-sanctioned competition and should use the Timekeeper Sheet to track the time for each round of competition.

Captains Meeting Forms (2024 Versions)

  • As permitted by the Midlands Rules of Evidence, this PDF contains the Captains' Meeting Form and Gender Pronouns Form that are to be used in AMTA-sanctioned competitions.

Spirit of AMTA Form

  • This document is the Spirit of AMTA form that is to be used to determine the winner of the Spirit of AMTA award at each AMTA-sanctioned competition.