Meet The Coaches

Jade K. Smarda, Esq.

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.

Callum S. Morris, Esq.

Callum practiced business litigation in the Dayton Office of Faruki+ for three and a half years after his graduation from Michigan State Law, and is now a clerk for Judge Thomas Rose, a Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. 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.

Dr. Laura Hume

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 then 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 2010-11 season, the program has grown from one team to two, and one attorney coach to five, so her role has evolved. While she still works with and travels sometimes with the team, she focuses primarily on team logistics, recruitment, promoting our teams to the administration and to the community and acting as Director and host of one of AMTA’s Regional Tournaments every February.

Raika Casey

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

Trisha Chatterjee lives and breathes mock trial. Having been on a national championship team while at Miami University, one of the earliest things Trisha did as a 1L at the University of Dayton School of Law was to contact the UD Mock Trial program and ask if she could help out. She’s been coaching for us ever since. Trisha is an immigration attorney with the Abdallah Law Offices.

Spencer Campbell

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

Sydney Skidmore has been an integral part of UD Mock Trial since she joined the team as a freshman at UD after having been in mock trial at Centerville (Ohio) High School. After earning her JD at Loyola-Chicago and returning to Dayton, Sydney rejoined the team as an attorney coach. Sydney loves mock trial almost as much as she loves coaching. Sydney is employed in the Child Protection Unit of the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.