Opening Statement

Legal Studies Event

Updated on April 1st, 2023

This event will consist of two parts. During Part One competitors will be provided with a criminal case file to review and prepare an opening statement. Competitors will have thirty (30) minutes to prepare their statement. Competitors may choose to present the case as the Prosecuting Attorney or the Defense Attorney. There will be no points assessed in Part One. During Part Two competitors will have five (5) minutes to present the Opening Statement to a panel of judges in a simulated courtroom. To encourage criminal justice students to improve their ability to properly present an opening statement for a criminal case in a court of law.

Participant Limit Information

Dress Code

Competitors shall be dressed in Business Professional attire as defined in the TPSA Dress Code Policy.

Materials

Competitors are required to provide the following materials for the duration of the competitive event. No additional materials may be used that are not in the material list.

• Photo Identification qt. 1

  Reference https://tpsa.info/policies for more information

• Light briefcase or portfolio case qt. 1
• Blank writing pad qt. 1
• Writing Utensil qt. 1

Policies

• Competitors in this event must be active members of the Texas Public Safety Association and in good standing with the Texas Public Safety Association.
• Competitors must be familiar with and adhere to the Texas Public Safety Association Bylaws and Code of Conduct.
• Plagiarism, copyright violation and falsification of information are prohibited. Any attempt to gain an unfair advantage will not be tolerated. Violation of the code of conduct or bylaws will result in disqualification and revocation of Texas Public Safety Association membership.
• The scenario is a secret topic. Professional ethics demand that competitors DO NOT discuss or reveal the secret topic until after the event has concluded. Violation of the ethics rules will result in disqualification and revocation of Texas Public Safety Association membership.
• Competitors must turn in all case notes to the Judge upon completion of the Opening Statement.

Procedures

1. Competitor will report to their respective event when called for or at a set reporting time.
2. Competitor must check in with event management upon arrival and present photo identification for verification.
3. Competitor will be directed (by room moderator) into the event room.
4. Instructions will be given (by room moderator) to the Competitor(s)/Team(s).
5. Competitor will be given thirty (30) minutes to prepare the Statement from documents provided by judge.
6. Competitor will be directed to the area where he/she will present the case.
7. Competitor will have no more than five (5) minutes to present the case to the Judge(s).
8. Penalty points shall be assessed for time during Part Two in the following manner: Loss of five (5) points for a presentation under three (3) minutes or over five (5) minutes.

Staff Instructions

People

• Judgeqt. 3
• Managerqt. 1
• Moderatorqt. 2
• Assistantqt. 1

Space/Location/Rooms

• Room for competitors to prepare their case Indoor
• Simulated courtroom Indoor

Supplies

• Tables and Chairs for competitors qt. 1
• Presentation table qt. 1
• Table and Chairs for judges qt. 1
• Timer qt. 1
• Multiple copies of the criminal case file qt. 1
• Rubric/Score sheet qt. 1
• Writing utensil qt. 1