From the 2010 News Archive
UMDLaw National Trial Team Finishes Second in NITA TOC
In separate contest, Keisha Williams collects Best Advocate award
The School of Law's National Trial Team finished second in the nation's most prestigious and selective national trial competition, the National Tournament of Champions (TOC). The event, sponsored by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, was held Oct. 27-30 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. A year earlier, the University of Maryland team finished fourth in the TOC, and in 2006 were named National Champions.
Members of the team are Mathew Miller (team captain) and Jamar Brown, both 3Ls, and Charles Austin and Kara Boyle, 2Ls. Their narrow final-round loss was to Chicago-Kent Law School.
Professor Jerry Deise, director of trial advocacy, noted that the TOC team practiced against a Maryland Law foursome that was itself preparing for the Puerto Rico Trial Advocacy Competition, which was held at the same time in Old San Juan. The team that headed to Puerto Rico – 3Ls Sally Guy and Keisha Williams and 2Ls Amanda Radke and Jennifer Ruiz – defeated a team from Catholic University in the preliminary rounds, but lost to eventual champion Harvard. Williams was named best advocate of all preliminary round competitors.
The very active week meant that Professor A.J. Bellido de Luna '04, head coach of the trial team, traveled to Pittsburgh and then to Puerto Rico so he could work with both teams. "We really must acknowledge the generosity and support of our coaches and the many members of the bar and bench and our faculty and students who support our team and the trial advocacy program," said Professor Deise. Alumni coaches include senior members Marnell Cooper '02 and Ramsay Whitworth '99, as well as Julia Carolan '06, Erin Frazee '09, Chris Madaio '10, Scott Richman '07 and Benjamin Salsbury '07.
Still ahead for the Maryland Law national trial team is the National Civil Trial Competition in Los Angeles. That team comprises 3Ls Ben Bruins and Ngai Zhang and 2Ls Anwar Graves and Daniel Mendlesohn.
Jeff Raymond
Media Relations Specialist
UMB News Bureau
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