Sketch Artist Competition Rules
7.1 Registration and Eligibility
Each school may register up to two courtroom sketch artists to compete in the Courtroom Sketch Artist Competition. Courtroom sketch artists are subject to all relevant Mock Trial Competition Rules (including the prohibition of communicating with any competing team members), restrictions, and eligibility requirements. Sketch pads are checked at the on-site registration to confirm the sketch pad consists of blank pages throughout the pad. Upon approval, the student receives a submission form to complete and accompany with their work turned in at the competition’s closing assembly upon request.
If the student’s school also registers a Mock Trial team, the courtroom sketch artists must register with the team and be included on the School Information Sheet/Code of Ethical Conduct Form and the Team Roster Form. The courtroom sketch artists have the same team code as their Mock Trial team and they accompany their team throughout the entire competition. The Courtroom sketch artists may not double as bailiffs, timekeepers, or any other team role. Courtroom sketch artists compete solely on their own efforts and do not advance to the state competition.
7.2 Trials / Trial Depiction
Sketches must depict actual courtroom scenes observed by the courtroom sketch artists on the competition day. Sketches are created and completed entirely on the competition day solely by the courtroom sketch artists without the help of any source or person. Laptops are not permitted in the competition venue. The courtroom sketch artists sketch trials in which his/her school is competing in at the regional level. The courtroom sketch artists are allowed to sit in the jury box. However, they shall not be seated in such a way to see the scoring judges’ scoresheets. If sketch artists finish their sketches after a round, they may sit with their team as a visitor in subsequent rounds. Once the trial begins, the courtroom sketch artists may not move about the courtroom. The courtroom sketch artists may work throughout the trial rounds and during breaks. The courtroom sketch artists may not communicate with any member of the Mock Trial teams or any visitors in the courtroom during the trials.
7.3. Submission Specifications
Courtroom sketch artists must supply their own materials. Sketches are done on white paper no smaller than 8.5 x 11 inches and no larger than 11 x 17 inches. Sketches may be black and white or pastel. Any dry medium may be used. The use of paint is not permitted. There should be no signatures on the front of the sketches; only on the back. Courtroom sketch artists are responsible for ensuring their work area is left neat and orderly with all trash disposed in the appropriate trash receptacle.
Each courtroom sketch artist submits one sketch for judging. Sketches must be submitted to the Regional Mock Trial Coordinator at the competition’s closing assembly upon request. A completed Sketch Submission Form must accompany the sketch at the time of submission.
7.4 Judging Components
The Regional Mock Trial Coordinator delivers all sketches to the State Mock Trial Coordinator for judging. Judges consist of art teachers/professors, professional artists, etc. with as many as 10+ judges. The State Mock Trial Coordinator assigns each sketch a random number and removes the Sketch Submission Forms. Numbered sketches are evaluated and scored anonymously by a judging team. The highest scored sketch is the state winner from the regional submissions statewide.
Sketches are judged on the following criteria: accuracy of proportion, realism, authenticity with regard to traditional courtroom sketching, figure/ground relationship, and use of contrast. Each component has a value up to five points.
The winner of the State High School Mock Trial Courtroom Sketch Artist competition is announced no earlier than two weeks following the regional competition on the SC Bar Web site at www.scbar.org/lre. The Courtroom Sketch Competition winner receives a certificate and a non-financial award.
7.5 Release
All submissions in the High School Mock Trial Courtroom Sketch Artist Competition become the property of the South Carolina Bar and may be used by the Law Related Education Division for any purpose it deems appropriate, including but not limited to reproduction and dissemination.
7.6 Submission Form
A Sketch Submission Form must be completed and attached by paperclip to the sketch entry. There is a maximum of one entry per courtroom sketch artist. The Sketch Submission Form can be found in the Forms and Supporting Information Section.