THE 2009 PHILIP C.

JESSUP INTERNATIONAL LAW

MOOT COURT COMPETITION
BAILIFF INSTRUCTIONS
The Bailiff is the key to a smooth and successful oral round. A Bailiff may be asked numerous
questions by participants and judges, so it is important that you become familiar with these
instructions.
You should arrive at least one half-hour before your scheduled rounds. It is very important that
each round begins on time. Please dress in business attire and bring a watch if the Administrator
has not indicated that one will be provided.
BAILIFF RESPONSIBILITIES
1) COURTROOM SET-UP

After checking-in, go to your assigned courtroom and set up the room for your round.
(Before you enter the courtroom make sure an oral round is not in progress.)

Clean up the courtroom and make sure the courtroom resembles the following layout.
Move the tables and chairs if necessary, and discard unneeded or used materials.
Team Counsel Tables

THE BAILIFF

Judges Bench

Room
Entrance

AUDIENCE

Oralists Podium
(Facing the bench)

Make sure the judges bench and each counsel table has water, paper, and pencil. Contact
the Bailiff Coordinator if you need more water or supplies.

2) MEET THE TEAMS

The teams should be in the courtroom at least 15 minutes before the round begins.

Inform the team members that you will be their Bailiff, and ask them to complete their
portion of the Bailiff Timekeeping Sheet.

This sheet assists Bailiffs in keeping track of time. It indicates how long each oralist will
argue and the amount of time reserved for rebuttal or surrebuttal. The sheet also has an
area where you can calculate when the time cards should be raised.

Complete three Oral Scoresheets (one for each judge), filling in the team numbers and the
names of the oralists from each team. Use the Bailiff Timekeeping Sheet to get this
information. Place an Oral Scoresheet in front of each Judges spot on the Judges bench. Ask
if the teams are ready and survey the room one last time.

Please be cognizant of Teams use of electronic devices and watches:

The Rules clarify that electronic devices, including computers, mobile phones, and digital
watches, may not be used and must be turned off during oral rounds. See Official Rules 7.11
and 7.12.
The Rules clarify that analog (non-digital) wristwatches and stopwatches may be used. The
Rules also clarify that the Bailiff's time is the only official time of the match and that no one
but the Bailiff may indicate how much time is left. See Official Rule 7.12.
*If you notice any Team Member using prohibited electronic devices, please inform
the Team before the Round begins that such use is prohibited. If you notice during the
Round, please tell the Bailiff Coordinator after the Round*

If teams have any questions or concerns at this time, please bring a message to the Bailiff
Coordinator as you return to meet your judges.

3) MEET THE JUDGES

You should be near the Judges Room to meet your judges at least five minutes before the
Round is set to begin.

It is very important that you maintain a courteous and helpful attitude with the judges.
Wait at the entrance of the Judges Room until the Bailiff Coordinator calls your courtroom.
The name of the courtrooms will be called as the judges for the courtrooms are assembled.
Once you hear the name of your courtroom, come forward and collect your judges.

Introduce yourself to your judges and inform them that you will be their bailiff. Politely
request that they select a President of the Court. Learn the correct pronunciation of the
Judges names and write the names down on the Script or Bailiff Timekeeping Sheet. Inform
them that after the conclusion of the oral pleadings you will ask the audience and the teams
to leave the room so that they may deliberate.

Escort the judges to the Courtroom.

4) BACK AT THE COURTROOM

Once you return to your courtroom, ask the judges to wait outside. Go into the courtroom
and check to make sure the teams are ready and the audience is seated.

Go back to allow the judges in. (The President should be in the middle). As they walk to the
bench, announce (see Bailiff Script):
All rise. The International Court of Justice is now in session . . .

Go to the bailiffs seat. As the judges sit down, the President will indicate to the oralists and
audience to take their seats. You will remain standing and announce:
The case before the court is the matter concerning ________. . .

5.) THE ORAL PLEADINGS

The entire oral pleading proceeds in the following order

o Applicant First Oralist
o Applicant Second Oralist
o Respondent First Oralist
o Respondent Second Oralist
o Applicant Rebuttal
o Respondent Surrebuttal

Keep track of the time using the Bailiff Timekeeping Sheet. The time cards indicate the
amount of time remaining, NOT how much time has elapsed. When it is time to hold up a
time card, hold each card high for approximately 10 seconds or until it has been seen by the
oralist and at least one of the Judges.

Do not speak at any time during the oral pleadings. Do not stop an oralist or a judge from
speaking.

If an oralist does not use all of his or her time, the time is lost and may not be added to later
pleadings. Also, a team is not allowed to change its allotted time once the round has begun.

An oralist may ask the judges for a few extra minutes to conclude. The judges have
discretion to grant more time. Keep track of the amount of time extended for each team in
case the judge asks in order to give the same amount to the other team.

At the end of the pleadings, you should stand and announce:

The Honorable Court is now adjourned. Counsel and spectators will
please clear the courtroom to allow the judges to deliberate.

Give the judges privacy to deliberate and complete the score sheets. When the judges are
finished, collect the scoresheets and make sure each judge has entered his/her name and
signed his/her score sheet. The scoresheets and their contents are not to be revealed to the
participants or anyone else.

Please inform the judges that they may briefly give feedback to the participants. When the
judges are ready to give feedback, you should invite the teams and audience to return to the
courtroom. Please deliver the scoresheets to the Bailiff Coordinator immediately. You can
return to listen to the feedback session after you have delivered your scoresheets.

Return the materials from your Bailiff Packet (timecards, Bailiff Timekeeping Sheet, Bailiff
Instructions, Bailiff Badge, etc.) to the Bailiff Coordinator.

All questions relating to the competition rules should be addressed to the Bailiff Coordinator. Please
remember that at all times, you are a representative of the Jessup Competition.
The International Law Students Association and all participants in the Jessup Competition
thank you for your involvement!