Trial Team Competition Update from Prof. Jerome E. Deise
Over the past few weeks, the National Trial team was busy competing in
three tournaments in Michigan, Chicago and San Francisco. Among their
accomplishments was receiving a Perfect Score Award, a Best Opening
Award, a Semi-Finalist Award and Runner-Up to the National Championship
at this year’s Tournament of Champions. Please join me in
congratulating our entire team for their superb performances once again,
and to all of the volunteer judges, attorneys and alumni who dedicated
so much of their time to ensure we continue our tradition of
excellence. The specifics of each round follows:
National Trial Advocacy Competition - E. Lansing, Michigan:
This tournament was sponsored by Michigan State University where twenty
six teams from an applicant pool of more than seventy law schools were
invited to participate. 3L’s Letam Duson, Daniel Flanagan, James
O’Donnell and Ashley Sharif competed in this competition. They were
supported by 2L Wandaly Fernandez and 3E Daniel Phipps. The team was
accompanied by coaches and Trial Team alums Jamar Brown and John
Everett. While the team did not advance, they performed extremely well
and we are proud of their performance.
In Vino Veritas GGU Mock Trial Competition – San Francisco, California:
This tournament was sponsored by Golden Gate University and the Criminal
Justice Section of the ABA and was a qualifying tournament for the ABA
Criminal Mock Trial Tournament in the Spring. For this inaugural
tournament, 3L’s Ian Anthony (Co-Captain), Glenn Gordon, Jasmine Foreman
and Matthew Wood were selected to compete in this competition. They
were supported by 2L’s Magaly Bittner, Eshawn Rawley and Tom Nucum. The
team was accompanied by coaches and Trial Team alums A.J. Bellido de
Luna and Chris Madaio along with the Director of Advocacy Programs
Professor Jerome E. Deise. Maryland was undefeated in the three
preliminary rounds, advancing to the semi-final round against the
eventual tournament winner, Michigan State. In addition to a third place
overall finish, Jasmine Foreman was recognized with a Perfect Score
Award for achieving a perfect score on all three ballots in a round.
Matt Wood was also awarded with the Best Opening Award for the
tournament.
National Tournament of Champions – Chicago, Illinois:
The nation’s most prestigious and selective national trial competition,
the National Tournament of Champions (TOC ), took place in Chicago just
before Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast. Members of this team
consisted of 3Ls, Marshall Jackson (Co-Captain), Robert (Alex) Carlson,
Sarah David and Wayne Heavener. They were supported by 2L’s Laura Dunn,
Martin Nestares and Stacy Siegel. The team was accompanied by coaches
and Trial Team alums A.J. Bellido de Luna and Scott Richman. In a very
tight round, the final ballot came in the final round to closing
arguments. Unfortunately, the team lost to Baylor University Law School
in the final round. This success is shared by everyone who helped
prepare the TOC team for this competition. On a side note, the team had
to wait out the storm in Chicago for three extra days before they could
secure a ride home.
As always, we offer a special thanks to the Honorable John Fader and the
Honorable Diane Leasure for preparing the team and recruiting fellow
judges to preside during their weekends practice rounds, Mr. Stan Rohd
who watched every team twice and was very generous with his time and
attention to the team, to Ms. Terese Brown, Ms. Kathleen Schotto, Dean
José Bahamonde-González and to Dean Haddon for their continued support
of the team.
The continued success of the team would not be possible but for the
generosity of our coaches, faculty, students and members of the bench
and bar who continue to donate their considerable time, talent and
experience to support our students. . We wish to acknowledge and thank
our judges and practitioners and alumni (*) who gave so much of their
time to provide guidance and feedback:
Judges:
The Honorable Kendra Ausby, The Honorable Louis Becker, The Honorable
Richard Bernhardt, The Honorable Philip Caroom, The Honorable Diane
Leasure, The Honorable John Fader, The Honorable Jeannie Hong, The
Honorable Laura Kiessling, The Honorable Diane Leasure, The Honorable
Robert McDonald, The Honorable Albert Northrop, The Honorable Charles
Peters,The Honorable Michael Reed, The Honorable Ronald Silkworth, The
Honorable Shirley Watts, and The Honorable Alexander Wright.
Practitioners:
Dale Adkins, Charles Blomquist, Jamar Brown*, Ben Bruins*, Julia
Carolan*, Lindsey Cook*, Anne Donahue, Mark Edelsen*, John Everett*,
Erin Frazee*, Anwar Graves*, Hughie Hunt, Sally McMillian Guy*, Kevin
Mahoney, Lindsey Lanzendorfer McCulloch*, Nikki Nesbitt, Chris Madaio*,
Scott Richman*, Stan Rohd, and Ben Salsbury*
I know that you share my pride in our outstanding National Trial Team. I
also wish to share a special thanks to A.J. Bellido de Luna for his leadership,
guidance and commitment to the trial advocacy program.
Best wishes,
Jerome E. Deise
Law School Professor
Director of Trial Advocacy