Trial Team Coaches
Professor Jerome E. Deise is the Faculty Adviser to the Trial Team. The former Chief Attorney of the Capital Crimes Division for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, Prof. Deise has been a member of the faculty since 1991. He directs the Federal & State Criminal Defense Clinic and teaches trial advocacy, advanced trial advocacy, evidence, trial evidence, criminal law and comparative professional responsibility (Aberdeen, Scotland). Since Prof. Deise became its director in 2000, the National Trial Team has enjoyed much success, including winning the 2006 NITA Tournament of Champions Competition. Prof. Deise was elected Law School Teacher of the Year in 1998 and was the 2004 national award winning recipient of the Richard S. Jacobson Award for Excellence in Teaching Trial Advocacy, presented by the Roscoe Pound Institute.
AJ Bellido de Luna is the "Head Coach" of the Trial Team. A 2004 alumni of the law school and the trial team, Mr. Bellido de Luna is the Managing Director of the school's Clinical Law Program. He helps prepare the teams for competition and travels with the team, providing support and coaching during the hectic competitions.
During Mr. Bellido de Luna's tenure on the team, he was appointed as the Trial Team Captain and competed successfully. Along with his teammates, Mr. Bellido de Luna won and ranked #1 at the William W. Daniel National Invitation Mock Trial Competition in Atlanta, Ga., he competed and won the ACTL (NTC) Regional Competition to advance to the National Competition in Houston, Texas where his team advanced to the Quarter Finals. Also during his tenure on the team, the school finished in 4th place and National 4th place ranking in NITA's Tournament of Champions! in Akron, Ohio; Second place finish in the ATLA Regional Competition in Washington, D.C. Garnered 5th place National ranking. Competed in the ABA's National Trial Competition in Chicago, IL after advancing from their Regional victory at Quinnipiac Law School Competition in New Haven, Connecticut. Upon graduation, Mr. Bellido de Luna was inducted into the Order of the Barrister.
Julia Carolan is a 2006 graduate of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, where she was the co-captain of the National Trial Team, Associate Editor on the Journal of Health Care Law and Policy, a member of Phi Delta Phi, and inducted into the Order of Barristers. During Ms. Carolan's tenure on the team, she advanced to the semifinal round in the 2005 regional ATLA Student Trial Advocacy Tournament, captured second place in the Quinnipiac University Northeast Regional Trial Advocacy Competition, and won the 2006 regional ATLA Student Trial Advocacy Competition. After law school, Ms. Carolan clerked for the Honorable Gale E. Rasin in the Circuit Court of Baltimore City. In addition to volunteering as a coach for the National Trial Team, Ms. Carolan is an associate at Astrachan Gunst Thomas, where she practices general civil litigation in the areas of employment law, media law, constitutional law, trademark and copyright law, petroleum distribution, antitrust and franchise law, commercial law, and contract disputes.
Erin Frazee is a 2009 graduate of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Upon graduation, Ms. Frazee was awarded the Elizabeth Maxwell Carroll Chesnut Prize and inducted into the Order of the Barristers. During her time at Maryland Carey Law, Ms. Frazee was a member of the National Trial Team, reaching the semi-finals in the Tournament of Champions. She was also a member of the National Moot Court Team, a finalist in the Morris B. Myerowitz Moot Court Competition, Notes and Comments Editor on the University of Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class, and a member of the board of the Katrina Project. After graduating, Ms. Frazee clerked for the Honorable Gale E. Rasin of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. She currently practices government contract law with the United States Department of Commerce.
Marnell Cooper is a 2002 graduate of the law school and the founder of Marnell A. Cooper, P.C. He has represented individuals and small businesses successfully in several jurisdictions within Maryland and in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. While attending the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Mr. Cooper was a regional champion member of the National Trial Team and a member of the Moot Court Board. At graduation, he was inducted into the Order of Barristers. Mr. Cooper currently volunteers his time assisting Professor Deise in preparing the National Trial Team for its fall and spring competitions.
Christopher J. Madaio is a 2010 graduate of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Magna Cum Laude, Order of the Coif. At Maryland, he was a member of the National Trial Team, the Executive Symposium Editor of the Maryland Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class, and an intern with the Hon. Sally D. Adkins of the Maryland Court of Appeals. Because of his leadership and public service to the school community, Mr. Madaio was a two-time Dean’s Award recipient. Additionally, Mr. Madaio was presented with the Public Leadership Award upon graduation for his involvement in such organizations as the Maryland Public Interest Law Project and the Katrina Indigent Defense Project.
Now working with the team as a coach, Mr. Madaio hopes to give current students the same amazing experience he had while a member of the Trial Team. Mr. Madaio is currently an associate in the products liability litigation department of Miles & Stockbridge, PC.
Scott Richman is a 2007 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law, where he was the only student in the school to be selected for the National Trial Team, Moot Court Board, and Maryland Carey Law Review. During Mr. Richman's tenure as captain of the National Trial Team, the team placed first and second in the ACTL Regional Trial Competition, first in the ATLA Regional Student Trial Advocacy Competition, third in the National Civil Trial Competition (NCTC), and first in the NITA Tournament of Champions, with Mr. Richman personally competing on the winning ACTL and NCTC teams. After graduating with honors, Mr. Richman clerked for the Honorable Althea M. Handy in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Mr. Richman is now an assistant state's attorney in the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office.
Benjamin S. Salsbury is a 2007 graduate of the University of Maryland, where he was a member of the National Trial Team, an Associate Editor of the Journal of Healthcare Law and Policy, an intern for The Honorable Marvin J. Garbis of the United States District Court District of Maryland, and a Professor's Assistant for Professor Jerome Deise in Trial Evidence. During his tenure as a trial team member, Mr. Salsbury was a student coach of the championship team at the 2006 NITA Tournament of Champions and a competitor in both the 2005 ACTL Regional Trial Competition and the 2007 National Ethics Competition. Upon graduation, Mr. Salsbury was presented with the Law, Litigation & Advocacy Award. He currently practices law in the areas of medical negligence, products liability, and personal injury with the firm Salsbury, Clements, Bekman, Marder & Adkins and has already obtained jury verdicts for his clients thanks to his trial team experience. Mr. Salsbury currently volunteers his time with the University of Maryland National Trial Team and also serves as a Head Coach of the Johns Hopkins University Undergraduate Mock Trial Team.
Ramsay M. Whitworth is a 1999 graduate of University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, where he was a member of the National Trial Team and Moot Court Board, and was awarded the ACTL Medal for Excellence in Advocacy and inducted into the Order of Barristers. Mr. Whitworth now coaches and prepares the team for its various competitions. During Mr. Whitworth's tenure on the Trial Team, the school won both the ACTL and ATLA regional competitions and was a quarterfinalist in the ACTL National Trial Competition in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Whitworth is now a partner in the litigation department of Gebhardt & Smith, LLP, and his practice areas include commercial litigation, construction litigation, creditors rights and general business representation.
Lindsey Cook
is a 2012 graduate of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, where she was a member of the National Trial Team. Upon graduation, she was inducted into the Order of the Barristers and Order of the Coif. During Ms. Cook’s time as a member of the National Trial Team, she advanced to the semi-finals in the Lone Star Classic in San Antonio Texas, winning an individual award for best summation. She was also finished second in the nation in the American Association for Justice’s annual trial competition in 2012. In addition to being a coach for the University of Maryland’s National Trial Team, she is also an associate in the workers’ compensation department at Semmes, Bowen, and Semmes.
Jamar R. Brown is a 2011 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law, where he was a member of the National Trial Advocacy Team. In 2010, Jamar was a national finalist in the National Institute for Trial Advocacy Tournament of Champions. Twice he was named a finalist in the American Association of Justice Regional Student Trial Advocacy Competition (2010 and 2011). Upon graduation, Jamar was inducted into the Order of Barristers in recognition for excellence in trial advocacy. He currently serves on the board of directors for The Clarence H. “Du” Burns Memorial Fund Inc. and chairs the foundation’s Fellowship Committee. Jamar is a member of a number of bar associations, including the American Bar Association, the Maryland State Bar Association, the Bar Association of Baltimore City, and Monumental City Bar Association.
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