The effectiveness of using video replays to judge gymnastics vaulting was examined by determining reliability of judges' scores and comparing mean scores for original (live) vaults and replays. Statistical analyses suggest that variability of scores was greater after the live vault, and that judges' reliability may be enhanced by replays.…

Investigates jury decision-making factors, decision timing, and the decision-making process by talking to actual trial jurors. Indicates that jurors were influenced by the evidence, witnesses, lawyers, and defendant and that the jurors made their decisions early in two trials and later in another trial. (SR)

Defines the terms "dissent" and "concurrence" as they apply to the United States Supreme Court. Traces briefly the history of written dissents and concurrences, and presents arguments both for and against the practice. Includes numerous examples of significant dissents and concurrences that have impacted constitutional…

Illuminates the importance of Chief Justice William Howard Taft in creating the modern administrative role of the Chief Justice of the United States. Specifically, the article examines the Act of 14 September 1922 that Taft championed in Congress to give the Chief Justice better tools for managing the judiciary. (DSK)

Monitors developments in 1997 in federal immunity law applicable to higher education, generally public institutions. Cases touched on Eleventh Amendment immunity (abrogation, waiver, removal, entities, interlocutory appeals, discovery), qualified immunity (claims involving motivation, interlocutory appeals), and absolute immunity. (EV)

Identifies significant trends and notable developments in tort litigation involving higher education institutions during 1997. Sections address: tort cases involving supervision and instruction of students, college and university liability for defective premises, duty of institutions to control others, common law tort cases in the context of…

This study examined the influence of diagnostic criteria and diagnostic labels for psychopathy or conduct disorder on judicial decisions. A national sample of judges (N = 326) rendered hypothetical dispositions based on 1 of 12 mock psychological evaluations. The evaluations varied the presence of 2 sets of diagnostic criteria (antisocial…

Modal and falsetto registers are the basic vocal qualities used in female speaking voices. The purpose of this study was to identify the frequency at which modal register changed to falsetto register and the frequency range of each modal and falsetto register produced under three loudness levels: soft, comfortable and loud phonations in normal and…

The ABA Division for Public Education asked a panel of experts--Joyce Baugh, Mary Dudziak, Michael Gerhardt, Timothy Johnson, John Maltese, Mark Moller, Jason Roberts, Elliot Slotnick, and David Yalof--to respond to questions about the judicial nomination process. These questions touched on the balance between the president and the Senate, the…

Debate judge philosophy statements have been part of the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Debate Tournament since the tournament's inception. Judges are asked to identify their preferred debate paradigm in the statement. The practice has raised the question of whether debate critics understand the debate paradigms as they are…

A study examined how debate coaches determine the validity of a ballot and how coaches can pass those validity judgments on to students. A survey consisting of five questions was attached to judging schedules at the 1998 L.E. Norton Individual Events Tournament held at Bradley University (Illinois) in November 1998. Surveys were distributed to 64…

Parliamentary debate, while not a new format, has proliferated to all regions of the country. New and growing debate formats, while valuable for students and programs, must maintain sound pedagogical foundations if they are to be considered viable forensic alternatives. A reading of the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) rules as…

Though after dinner speaking attracts fewer participants than most other categories at American Forensic Association tournaments, it can be one of the most fulfilling for those participating, coaching and listening. One of the reasons for the low participation rate is that judges offer vague and sometimes insensitive evaluations. Judges must not…

One way to improve topicality debates in CEDA (Cross Examination Debate Association) debate would be to thoroughly study the field contextual meanings of propositional phrases prior to submitting them to a vote. Judges need to reward exemplary arguments and "punish" poor arguments by substantially lowering a team's speaker points for…

A study reported on two experiments which addressed the question of whether debate judges do as they say they will with regard to the advent of judge philosophy statements. The larger goal of the combined experiments was to discover whether: (1) judging paradigms operate meaningfully in Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) debate and (2)…