Published April 16, 2015
For the first time in university history, a squad from the University of Louisiana
at Monroe’s mock trial team competed in the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS)
in Memphis, Tenn. and returned with two national awards.
The Gold Squad brought home two awards, finishing tied for 14th out of 24 squads.
Adam Nettles, a sophomore political science major from Pineville, won “Best Attorney,”
and Jordan Jones, a senior English major from Monroe, won “Best Witness” for their
performances.
“I am proud to have had the opportunity to represent ULM and to win an award at such
a high level of competition, said Nettles. “I am excited about the direction and future
of our program. I have great teammates, great coaches, and great professors collectively
working together to help me—to help all of us— realize what our best really is.”
Only 192 of 900 teams earned the right to compete in the ORCS. The Gold Squad finished
eighth in the Dallas Regional Tournament in February to advance to the Opening Round
Championship Series.
“Representing ULM at such a high level of competition and being recognized along with
my teammates for an outstanding performance is the highlight of my career as a student,”
said Jones. “I congratulate Adam Nettles for his consummate professionalism. He is
more than deserving of this award. I also thank my teammates, my captain Gabriel Silva,
and my coach Bob Noel for incredible leadership and instruction.”
ULM’s team was founded in 2013 by attorney Robert “Bob” Noel, with assistance from
political science professors Dr. Joshua Stockley and Dr. John Sutherlin. This year
the ULM Honors Program unveiled the E. Orum Young Courtroom looking out over Bayou
DeSiard.
“Our students worked tirelessly for a year to earn the right to be listed alongside,
and to compete against an elite group of universities,” said Noel. “Their efforts
paid off— winning awards and being accepted into top-50 and top-100 law schools. I
am so proud of all of them.”
Stockley said, “I am proud of our students and our coaches, Bob Noel and Kyle Moore.
At ULM, we believe in putting our students in the best position to succeed both now
and in the future. It is no accident that three-quarters of all ULM political science
majors are accepted to law or graduate school.”
For two years, ULM was home to the only active mock trial program at a public institution
in the state; this year, ULM was the only university in the state to compete in the
national tournament.
The American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) was founded in 1985 and is the governing
body for intercollegiate mock trial competition. AMTA sponsors regional and national-level
competitions, as well as providing interesting and complex case materials for academic
use.
