University of Dayton Mock Trial
Jade K. Smarda, Esq.
Head Coach
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Jade has coached Dayton Mock Trial since 2015. In 2019, she assumed the role of head coach, and has made it her mission to grow a (volunteer) coaching staff of talented practitioners, law students, and alumni. In her coaching capacity, Jade devotes the bulk of her time to the A team. Jade started competing in mock trial in high school, and continued through college (Miami University, B.A., 2006) and law school (University of Dayton School of Law, J.D., 2009).
Jade practices civil litigation, serving as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Ohio (Dayton).
Callum S. Morris, Esq.
Attorney Coach
Callum is a civil practitioner, and began coaching Dayton Mock Trial in 2020. A former Dayton competitor, he coached at Michigan State University while attending law school. Callum cultivates talent by leading our B team, where most new competitors first learn the fundamentals of trial practice, the rules of evidence, and how to simplify complex issues for presentation to a jury.
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Callum practices business litigation in the Dayton Office of Faruki+.
Dr. Laura Hume
Director of Prelaw Program, Educator Coach
Dr. Laura Hume became involved in Mock Trial when she became Director of the UD Pre-Law Program in 2010, and thus, the de facto educator coach for mock trial. Different directors have taken different approaches. "My job could have been entirely administrative -- simply paying the bills and giving the grades -- but I wanted to work with the attorney coach, Jon Marshall, because I thought mock trial looked exciting. Boy, was I right!" She started out working on character development with the witnesses. Since that 2010-2011 season, the program has grown from one team to two, and one attorney coach to five, so her role has evolved. These days while she still works with and travels sometimes with the team, she focus primarily on the program's tournament (the Dayton Flyers Invitational), team logistics, recruitment, and promoting our teams.
Raika Casey
Law Student Coach
University of Cincinnati College of Law, Class of 2021
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Raika began competing with the University of Dayton Mock Trial team her junior year of college. Since then, mock trial has consumed her entire life. Raika graduated in the Fall of 2017, and planned on starting law school in the Fall of 2018. While most people would use this gap period between undergrad and law school to travel, work, or relax, Raika chose to remain on the team and compete with Dayton in the Spring. While a member of Dayton’s A team, Raika earned several outstanding attorney awards and was named an All-Region Attorney in 2018.
Currently, Raika is a 3L at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. She is the President of the Trial Advocacy Team and has secured top finishes at multiple law school trial team competitions. After Raika graduates from law school, she will work as a Litigation Associate at Faruki+ in both their Cincinnati and Dayton offices. Raika joined the Dayton coaching staff in 2019 and cannot imagine spending her Monday and Wednesday nights and occasional weekends doing anything else.
Trisha Chatterjee
Law Student Coach
University of Dayton School of Law, Class of 2023
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Trisha began competing with Miami of Ohio's Mock Trial Team her freshman year of college. Through this, she had opportunities to travel the country and compete at the Nationals level. She fondly remembers all of the times she spent writing entirely new directs before rounds - either in the break between cases in chief, or if she was lucky, in the hotel room the night before. While on the program, she served as Captain of the A team and took way too much pride in bringing home several Spirit of AMTA awards. Trisha is now a second year law student at the University of Dayton, but still somehow spends all of her free time on mock trial. In her remaining free time, Trisha enjoys baking and buying plants.
Spencer Campbell
Graduate Student Coach
Spencer discovered mock trial while walking around the student organization fair at Miami
University as a freshman in 2015. His love of performing and fascination with the law made
mock trial a natural fit. The activity has led him to travel the country, form lasting friendships,
and pursue a career in litigation. He is an AMTA National Champion (2018), a two-time All-
American (2018, 2019), and former President of Miami Mock Trial.
Spencer is an attorney with Markovits, Stock & DeMarco, LLC, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. He practices civil litigation, with a special emphasis on class action work and complex commercial litigation. Spencer also coaches UC Law’s Trial Practice and Moot Court teams and works regularly with ArtsWave to support Cincinnati’s thriving arts scene. He enjoys a home cooked meal, a busy schedule, and poorly playing piano.
Sydney Skidmore
Law Student Coach
Loyola University School of Law, Class of 2021
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Bio Coming soon!
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