Tournament: Harvard Westlake | Round: 2 | Opponent: na | Judge: na
My value is morality, as implied by the word Ought in the resolution. Ought is “Context Sensitive” – meaning that whether we Ought to do something depends upon the context of that sentence. The context of the resolution is the criminal justice system – whether we Ought to prefer truth seeking can only be answered from within the context of that system.

Wedgwood, 2006 – Profof philosophy at USC Ralph. “The Meaning of 'Ought'” ed. Russ Shafer-Landau http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~wedgwood/meaningofought.htm

The context-sensitivity...contingency plan.

My criteria is institutional legitimacy – promoting the social welfare of those in the system. This is the only system of ethics that can effectively compare and contrast different positions. It is particularly relevant to the Resolution, which asks what the United States ought do. Promoting the legitimacy of the criminal justice system requires us to define the objectives Of that system. A
system can only be legitimate if people believe that it achieves the goals it sets out to achieve and applies those goals consistently.
For example, a good watch is one that tells time well, because that
is the function of a watch. A different watch – one that bakes
cookies, may be awesome, but it is not a great Watch, because it
doesn’t tell time. The morality of an object or actor is defined by its
ability to carry out its function.

Macintyre 2007 After Virtue: A Study in moral theory. Alasdair Macintyre, University of Notre Dame Press 0268035040 P 56-58

In a valid...moral arguments.

Contention 1- The Primary objective of the criminal justice system is
truth- seeking.

1. Truth seeking is the primary objective of the criminal justice system – it is necessary for the legitimacy of the system and is a precondition for all other goals of the system. Prefer my evidence because it is specifically comparative.

Harris, 1992 - Associate Professor of Law, University of Toledo College David Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 83 Issue 3 Fall Article 1 Fall 1992 Constitution and Truth Seeking: A New Theory on Expert Services for Indigent Defendants .http://www.google.com/urlsa=tandrct=jandq=andesrc=sandsource=webandcd=6andved=0CEYQFjAFandurl=http3A2F2Fscholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu2Fcgi2Fviewcontent.cgi3Farticle3D674726context3Djclcandei=SvhKUvfQN_iyAGygIGIDwandusg=AFQjCNGuotxFVT7ww0Srq287oLw7JVUxQandsig2=0sQvEaUfRpiFj-zvlpmiogandbvm=bv.53371865,d.aWc

The Primary Goal...truth seeking theory.

2. Truth seeking is the highest goal of the criminal justice system – it is necessary to keep the social peace and it is a prerequisite to all other functions of the system

Shanshan 2012 - China EU School of Law Wu 9-20 The Search for Truth in Criminal Process http://www.cesl.edu.cn/upload/201209206168631.pdf

The criminal ...criminal process.

3. Truth seeking trumps all other goals within the criminal justice system – 

a. Individual freedom – it respects the dignity of each person in the criminal justice system

Harris, 1992 - Associate Professor of Law, University of Toledo College David Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 83 Issue 3 Fall Article 1 Fall 1992 Constitution and Truth Seeking: A New Theory on Expert Services for Indigent Defendants .http://www.google.com/urlsa=tandrct=jandq=andesrc=sandsource=webandcd=6andved=0CEYQFjAFandurl=http3A2F2Fscholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu2Fcgi2Fviewcontent.cgi3Farticle3D674726context3Djclcandei=SvhKUvfQN-_iyAGygIGIDwandusg=AFQjCNGuotxFVT7ww0Srq287oLw7JVUxQandsig2=0sQvEaUfRpiFj-zvlpmiogandb
vm=bv.53371865,d.aWc

Respecting Individual...in them.

b. Protecting the Innocent - Truth Seeking best protects the innocent  and respects individual dignity

Harris, 1992 - Associate Professor of Law, University of Toledo College David Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 83 Issue 3 Fall Article 1 Fall 1992 Constitution and Truth Seeking: A New Theory on Expert Services for Indigent Defendants .http://www.google.com/urlsa=tandrct=jandq=andesrc=sandsource=webandcd=6andved=0CEYQFjAFandurl=http3A2F2Fscholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu2Fcgi2Fviewcontent.cgi3Farticle3D674726context3Djclcandei=SvhKUvfQN-_iyAGygIGIDwandusg=AFQjCNGuotxFVT7ww0Srq287oLw7JVUxQandsig2=0sQvEaUfRpiFj-zvlpmiogandb
vm=bv.53371865,d.aWc

With all...before the law

c. Truth seeking is more important than equality – it is less ambiguous

Harris, 1992 - Associate Professor of Law, University of Toledo College David Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 83 Issue 3 Fall Article 1 Fall 1992 Constitution and Truth Seeking: A New Theory on Expert Services for Indigent Defendants .http://www.google.com/urlsa=tandrct=jandq=andesrc=sandsource=webandcd=6andved=0CEYQFjAFandurl=http3A2F2Fscholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu2Fcgi2Fviewcontent.cgi3Farticle3D674726context3Djclcandei=SvhKUvfQN-_iyAGygIGIDwandusg=AFQjCNGuotxFVT7ww0Srq287oLw7JVUxQandsig2=0sQvEaUfRpiFj-zvlpmiogandb
vm=bv.53371865,d.aWc

Note the... process formulation.

Contention 2- Truth Seeking is essential to the Legitimacy of the Criminal Justice System

1. Truth seeking protects the adversarial system by maintaining the burdens of the prosecution

Harris, 1992 - Associate Professor of Law, University of Toledo College David Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 83 Issue 3 Fall Article 1 Fall 1992 Constitution and Truth Seeking: A New Theory on Expert Services for Indigent Defendants .http://www.google.com/urlsa=tandrct=jandq=andesrc=sandsource=webandcd=6andved=0CEYQFjAFandurl=http3A2F2Fscholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu2Fcgi2Fviewcontent.cgi3Farticle3D674726context3Djclcandei=SvhKUvfQN-_iyAGygIGIDwandusg=AFQjCNGuotxFVT7ww0Srq287oLw7JVUxQandsig2=0sQvEaUfRpiFj-zvlpmiogandb
vm=bv.53371865,d.aWc

Maintenance of...of poverty.

2. By bringing back the purpose of truth seeking the criminal justice
system will be more legitimate. Diverting the focus from the primary
function of truth seeking undermines the system. 

Bandes 2008 - Professor, DePaul University College of Law Research
Protecting the Innocent as the Primary Value of the Criminal Justice System GEORGE C. THOMAS III, THE SUPREME COURT ON TRIAL: HOW THE AMERICAN JUSTICE SYSTEM SACRIFICES INNOCENT DEFENDANTS Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press 2008

Thomas argues...seek the truth.