UIL Speech Judges
If you have corrections, questions or comments regarding this information, please notify The UIL Speech and Debate department at speech@uiltexas.org or 512-471-5883.
Melissa Witt
Current high school:
Longview Pine Tree
Currently coaching?: Yes
Conference: 4A
Number of years coached: 26
Number of tournaments judged: 10+ (2025-26)
High school attended:
Post High School
Graduated high school: 1991
Participated in high school: Yes
Participated in college: Yes
Judging qualifications:
I have been a full-time, certified teacher and active UIL/TFA/NSDA coach and judge for 26 years, and an active UIL/TFA/NSDA judge for 9 years prior to that. I have coached and judged all UIL, TFA, and NSDA events at the district, Region, State, and National levels and, of course, invitationals throughout the year. My judging philosophy can be found on Tabroom.com at https://www.tabroom.com/index/paradigm.mhtml.
Judging Philosophy
CX
Judging approach: Policy Maker
Policy priority: Communication skills and resolution of substantive issues are of equal importance
Evidence philosophy: Quantity of evidence and quality of evidence are of equal importance
Paradigm: I like all kinds of arguments (traditional and progressive) I even like theory arguments. Just know what you are trying to argue and have all of the necessary parts (impacts, voters, alternatives, etc.) I am not a fan of spreading to the point of unintelligibility but don't mind accelerated speech when I can still clearly understand what is being said. I am hearing impaired, so it's important to hit taglines and make transitions VERY CLEAR for me. I do have hearing aid devices, but I need you to clue me in when we are moving to a new card/argument.
LD
Approach: Communication skills and resolution of substantive issues are of equal importance
Philosophy:
I have a degree in Philosophy and a degree in Political Science and I like both the practical arguments AND the philosophical arguments. I want to hear a developed framework (Value & Criteria) with explanation, justification, and application to the resolution. And I want to hear good (evidenced and logical) clash at the framework level, not just at the contention level. I want you to have researched the value, philosophy, or standard by which you are affirming or negating AND I want you to research answers to common (and not-so-common) values and criteria that you might hit in rounds on the current resolution. I don't have an opinion on whether or not your cases are traditional or progressive, just know what you are arguing, have complete arguments, and know how to explain how your arguments are working in the round I am judging. CLASH = attack your opponent's arguments with evidence and logic. LD is not purely analytical attacks, you should have counter evidence at both the framing and contentions levels of the debate. And feel free to attack definitions as well.
Contact Information
email: mwitt@ptisd.org
cell: 903 5576323
office: 903 2955031
Availability Information
Meet types:
Invitational
District
Congress Region
Qualified for:
CX
LD
Extemp
Prose/Poetry
Congress
Travel
Region of residence:
5
I will travel to: 2 5 6
