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High School Mock Trial Competition Code of Conduct

ACCOUNTABILITY FOR AND CONSEQUENCES OF ENGAGING IN PROHIBITED CONDUCT

All Participants, including parents and guest-observers, must adhere to the rules and procedures of the Mock Trial Competition and this Code of Conduct (which includes by this reference the Extensions signed by the students, teacher-coaches and attorney-coaches). Teacher-coaches, attorney-coaches and students must digitally submit the extensions prior to the first round of the local competitions. Failure to abide by the Mock Trial Code of Conduct is sufficient grounds for disqualification and dismissal of the team with which the offender(s) is directly or indirectly connected at the sole discretion of the County Coordinator at the local level or the Mock Trial Committee at the state regional, semi-final and final levels.

High School Mock Trial Competition Code of Conduct

 

EXTENSION OF CODE OF CONDUCT

To Be Signed by Teacher-Coach Participants in the
Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition

I have read and fully commit myself to the overall purpose and spirit of the Mock Trial Competition. Moreover, I endorse the specific goals of the Mock Trial Competition as set forth in the Code of Conduct and agree not to engage in or condone any of the negative behaviors set forth therein. I execute this Extension of said Code of Conduct in my role as teacher-coach, hereby agreeing to focus attention on the educational value of the Mock Trial Competition.

I agree to act as an adult role model for my students and to discourage willful violations of the rules. I will instruct my students as to proper procedure and decorum and will assist them in understanding and abiding by the competition rules and procedures as well as adhering to the spirit of this Code of Conduct. By action and by deed, I will teach my students the importance of treating others with respect and courtesy. In my interaction with other teacher-coaches, attorney-coaches, mock trial judges, county mock trial coordinators, other volunteers and mock trial personnel, I will set an example that my students can follow.

I understand that I have the following responsibilities for which I, alone, am accountable:
• Training students to fulfill the role of jurors and bringing a sufficient number of student jurors to each round of competition.
• Circulating the Code of Conduct to all parents and guest-observers in advance of their attending any of the rounds of competition.

For teachers of the Courtroom News Reporters/Courtroom Artists: I understand that I have the following responsibility for which I, alone, am accountable:
• Circulating the Code of Conduct to all parents and guest-observers in advance of their attending any of the rounds of competition.

I agree that I will not disseminate any reproduction of any portion of this competition without the express written consent of each student and the parent/guardian of each, of my team as well as opposing teams, as well as the permission or consent of the student’s own coach, whose images may be captured on film or other telecommunications technology. I will not post any images from this competition on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking site without the permission as set forth above. I will not encourage or permit anyone else to do so, and will report same if it happens. I further agree that any violation of this rule subjects me to removal from the competition and places my entire team in jeopardy of being severely penalized for my actions. See R.2:5-3 and Online Rule 1.11 (the latter rule is in the event of virtual competition).

I agree to act as a role model by carrying out my responsibilities as a teacher, never forgetting that I am representing the educational system in addition to coaching high school students as their mock trial advisor. Thus, I will zealously encourage fair play and promote conduct and behavior that is in keeping both with proper courtroom decorum and the spirit of the Mock Trial Competition. I will discourage skirting the rules and engaging in obstructionist behavior that interferes with the orderly flow of courtroom procedures. I agree to inculcate the highest standards of the education profession by discouraging a culture of win-at-any-cost and by promoting a spirit of willing compliance with the rules of the competition and the ethical guidelines provided by this Code of Conduct.

To digitally sign, please select one of the two icons. If you select the blue pen you'll be able to use your mouse and sign within the box or you can click the keyboard to type out your signature.

EXTENSION OF CODE OF CONDUCT

To Be Signed by Attorney-Coach Participants in the
Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition

 

I have read and fully commit myself to the overall purpose and spirit of the Mock Trial Competition. Moreover, I endorse the specific goals of the Mock Trial Competition as set forth in the Code of Conduct and agree not to engage in or condone any of the negative behaviors set forth therein. I execute this Extension of said Code of Conduct in my role as attorney-coach, hereby agreeing to abide by the rules and procedures of the Mock Trial Competition and to uphold the highest standards of the legal profession.

 

I agree to act as a role model of our honorable profession by carrying out my responsibilities as an officer of the court, never forgetting that I am representing the judicial system in addition to coaching high school students as their mock trial advisor. Thus, I will zealously encourage fair play and promote conduct and behavior that is in keeping both with proper courtroom decorum and the spirit of the Mock Trial Competition. I will discourage skirting the rules and engaging in obstructionist behavior that interferes with the orderly flow of courtroom procedures. I agree to inculcate the highest standards of the legal profession by discouraging a culture of win-at-any- cost and by promoting a spirit of willing compliance with the rules of the competition and the ethical guidelines provided by this Code of Conduct.

I agree that I will not disseminate any reproduction of any portion of this competition without the express written consent of each student and the parent/guardian of each, of my team as well as opposing teams, as well as the permission or consent of the student’s own coach, whose images may be captured on film or other telecommunications technology. I will not post any images from this competition on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking site without the permission as set forth above. I will not encourage or permit anyone else to do so, and will report same if it happens. I further agree that any violation of this rule subjects me to removal from the competition and places my entire team in jeopardy of being severely penalized for my actions. See R.2:5-3 and Online Rule 1.11 (the latter rule is in the event of virtual competition).

Attorney at Law, State of New Jersey
To digitally sign, please select one of the two icons. If you select the blue pen you'll be able to use your mouse and sign within the box or you can click the keyboard to type out your signature.

EXTENSION OF CODE OF CONDUCT

To Be Signed by Student Team Member Participants, Student Courtroom News Reporters and Student Courtroom Artists in the Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition

As a Team Member/Juror/Courtroom Artist/Courtroom News Reporter of my High School, I state that I have read and fully commit myself to the overall purpose and spirit of the Mock Trial Competition. Moreover, I endorse the specific goals of the Mock Trial Competition as set forth in the Code of Conduct and agree not to engage in or condone any of the negative behaviors set forth therein. I execute this Extension of said Code of Conduct as a condition of participation in the Mock Trial Competition and hereby promise to compete with the highest standards of comportment, showing respect for my fellow students, opponents, judges, attorney-coaches, teacher-coaches, county mock trial coordinators and mock trial personnel.

I agree to accept both defeat and success with dignity and restraint. I promise to avoid all tactics that I know are wrong or in violation of the rules. I make a commitment to comply with the rules of the competition in spirit and in practice. I will not plagiarize or accept plagiarized material. I will not use telecommunications technology to circumvent the rules or to gain unfair advantage. I understand that use of telecommunications technology in the courtroom by any Participant (with the exception of permissible video recording by participating teams per R.2:5-3) seeking to gain advantage for a team subjects that team to the risk of disciplinary action, which could result in an expulsion of the team from the competition or in the lesser penalty of a score reduction. I understand that I may be photographed, video recorded or audio recorded as part of my participation in the competition. See Online Rule 1.11 (the latter rule is in the event of virtual competition).

I agree that I will not disseminate any reproduction of any portion of this competition without the express written consent of each student and the parent/guardian of each, of my team as well as opposing teams, as well as the permission or consent of the student’s own coach, whose images may be captured on film or other telecommunications technology. I will not post any images from this competition on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking site without the permission as set forth above. I will not encourage or permit anyone else to do so, and will report same if it happens. I further agree that any violation of this rule subjects me to removal from the competition and places my entire team in jeopardy of being severely penalized for my actions. See R.2:5-3 and Online Rule 1.11.

To digitally sign, please select one of the two icons. If you select the blue pen you'll be able to use your mouse and sign within the box or you can click the keyboard to type out your signature.