Thurgood Law Captures National Championship at Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial Competition

A team from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law (TMSL) earned a major victory that underscores what the Texas Southern University community already knows: at Thurgood Law, excellence is not just an aspiration — it is our proven reality. The team won first place at the 2025 Buffalo-Niagara National Mock Trial Competition, hosted by the University of Buffalo School of Law. 

TMSL’s mock trial team – DeAndre Bell II (3L), Sheridan Davis (3L), Destiny Rodriguez (3L), and Robert Ellis III (2L) – brought home the program’s first national championship in more than a decade. The team is led by TMSL alumnus Timothy Adams (’17) — a trial attorney, former Assistant District Attorney, and current Adjunct Professor and Director of Advocacy — and coached by a team of accomplished trial litigators.

Students come to Thurgood Law with a clear purpose: to be educated, trained, and shaped into exceptional advocates. They continue to distinguish themselves among the nation’s strongest competitors. That excellence was on full display in Buffalo, as they successfully competed against 26 teams from across the country. 

“During the preliminary rounds, Thurgood Law went undefeated against Northwestern, Catholic, Duquesne, and DePaul,” said Director of Advocacy Timothy Adams.

“Our semi-final opponent was Denver, and after a hard-fought battle, the team advanced to the finals against the University of Missouri–Kansas City. By a 6–1 decision from a seven-judge panel, Thurgood Law was crowned the champions. This is a historic moment for our program, and I could not be more proud.”

Thurgood Law students also captured top individual honors.

• DeAndre Bell, 3L — Overall Best Oral Advocate and Best Closing Argument
• Destiny Rodriguez, 3L — Best Direct Examination

Adams extended gratitude to the alumni coaches whose commitment and expertise helped lead the team to victory: Elayne Robinson ’21, Antonelly Vargas ’22, and Daniel Franco ’23. He also acknowledged the invaluable support from Thurgood Law staff who contributed to this significant achievement.

Watch a brief recap of the championship team’s journey on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQwgAsfgcIl/?igsh=c3JxanRnNG1ydnY0