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No Argument: Mock Trial Team Attracts Notice
6/27/2007
 They almost made the playoffs, and two of the players made the all-stars. “Not bad for an expansion team,” said University of St. Thomas Political Science Department Chair Dr. Jon Taylor. His metaphor, of course, was to sports, but the “sport” was the American Mock Trial Association’s Great Southern Regional Qualifier Mock Trial Tournament.
In its inaugural year, the UST Fighting Celts team achieved an overall record of 4-4, narrowly missing the national tournament by one ballot. Two team members received high individual honors.
The competition, hosted by Southern Methodist University on Feb. 24-25 in Dallas, pitted UST against 23 teams from 13 schools including Rice, Houston Baptist University, Southern Methodist University, University of Texas, Texas A&M, Air Force Academy, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss, among others. The UST team consisted of seniors Erin McClarty (team captain), Reina Cisneros, Robert Dodaro, John Joerns, Roy Mitchell, Nathan Prihoda, Ciro Samperi and junior Daniel Williams.
They were coached by Lisa Linney, an attorney and adjunct professor in the Political Science Department. In addition to the team’s four wins, John Joerns was awarded “All Region Attorney” out of 144 competitors, and Roy Mitchell was named “All Region Witness” out of another 144 students. Only three other teams achieved the same recognition.
“It was an impressive performance by a first-year team,” said Jason Butler, an AMTA representative. The team’s coach and advisors were equally excited about the results.
“From a forensic perspective, our competitors are as good as many practicing lawyers,” said Jeremy Heallen, a UST adjunct professor and attorney who practices law and consulted for the team along with his mother, UST alumna Kelly Heallen. “To compete and win at this level of competition the first time out is quite an accomplishment,” he said.
According to the team’s coach Linney, who is married to Jeremy Heallen, larger universities took notice of the UST team and its staff. Four days following the competition, UST was approached about co-sponsoring a Houston-area invitational tournament next fall.
In addition to consulting, Kelly Heallen donated use of her office space for individual practice sessions. The Hon. Judy Warne, also a UST alumna, offered her courtroom for practice trials. “The loyalty of these graduates to the University is a testament to the values UST instills in its students,” Linney said. “Support from the University and its graduates is crucial.”
In the wake of the team’s success, the UST mock trial coach and advisors have started preparing and recruiting for the 2007-2008 season. “We have already seen the formula for success in action with this year’s team,” Linney said. “With some polishing and refinement, the national competition is within our grasp.”
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