BAILIFF INSTRUCTIONS The Bailiff is the key to a smooth and ...

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 30 minutes 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 with the Bailiff Coordinator, 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
Oralist’s Podium
(Facing the bench)
Make sure the judges bench and each counsel table has water, cups, paper, and
pencil. Contact the Bailiff Coordinator if you need more water or supplies.
3) 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 Judge’s 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. All such devices must be turned off and
removed from sight as soon as the bailiff enters the courtroom and must remain
off until the end of the round. 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.
4) MEET THE JUDGES
You should report back to 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.
5) 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, begin reading the Bailiff Script:
“All rise. The International Court of Justice is now in session . . .
Go to the bailiff’s seat. As the judges sit down, the President will indicate to the oralists and
audience to take their seats. You will remain standing and read the second part of the script:
“The case before the court is the matter concerning . . .

5.) THE ORAL PLEADINGS
The entire round 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 extra time each team is
given in case the judge would like to give the same amount to the other team.
At the end of the pleadings, you should stand and announce the last part of the script:
“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 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 service!