Posting this in Comp REL since video coverage most likely happens at that - but also applies at regular


During a discussion today, a judge found that the Headjudge cannot use video material in their investigation if such material exists from coverage, bar MCs, according to the annotated MTR (https://blogs.magicjudges.org/rules/mtr2-13/)

Why is that?
I fully understand that we don't use video material in “normal” rulings, as that would make rulings different based on whether or not a player is in the feature match area - same as we don't use judge information when a judge could confirm which card was drawn extra for HCE because they were watching.

But why is that also the case for investigations?

The annotated MTR names two reasons:
“People on camera may get some additional advantage when they are on camera due to the video replay option.”
This doesn't apply in an investigation scenario (or at least I don't see how), as the only goal in an investigation is whether or not tournament integrity has been compromised.
“It adds time to the investigation. The Head Judge needs to head somewhere, have the video team find the video for that match, find the exact spot, and then watch it, possibly multiple times.”
This I understand. But….everything in an investigation adds time. And it is up to the Headjudge to decide how and how much time should be spent on what part of an investigation.
Why is this not the same for video material? Clearly, if it would take 20 minutes for everyone to wait to get the material and another 10 to review it, it's too long…but if it can be collected in 5 minutes while the HJ is talking with the players, and then could be used to pretty easily find out what actually happened, according to the annotated MTR, the HJ cannot do that.


So: Why is it that the Headjudge gets to use all resources avaliable to them in an investigation, and has to make a judgement call on what to use and how long and what to use it for - but (apparently) not video material?