Morgan State U
Long before arriving at Morgan’s campus in northeast Baltimore, Naja Revell had her eyes set on becoming a criminal defense attorney. In fact, as far back as her middle and high school years, she participated in extracurricular activities that possessed a kinship to her true passion: law. Revell was a member of her school’s debate club, Model UN club, and mock trial team; she was building a foundation for her future.
Nestling into her first year at Morgan, the Philadelphia native majoring in Sociology and minoring in Pre-Law noticed something missing.
“There was no space where students truly interested in becoming attorneys could practice law in a simulated, courtroom-style setting,” Revell recalled. “So, I created one.”
“I looked around and saw no organization where students could actually step into the courtroom, even in a simulated way,” said Revell. “That absence wasn’t just surprising. It was a call to action.”
In fall 2023, Revell laid the foundation for what would become Morgan State’s first-ever student-run mock trial team. The process was meticulous. She began by drafting a constitution and bylaws, recruiting fellow students and identifying potential leaders who shared her passion for the legal field. With the guidance and backing of her orientation instructor—and later MSU Mock Trial advisor and New Student Programs Coordinator within Morgan’s Office of Student Success and Retention, Richard Kearney, Revell submitted the organization for approval.
“A majority of our members were new to the idea of Mock Trial competitions before joining,” shared Richard Kearney. “We expect to not only participate, but to place amongst the best.”
In February 2024, the MSU Mock Trial was officially recognized by Morgan’s Office of Student Life and Development — earning Merit Status in its first semester.
But Revell wasn’t done. The team quickly registered with the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), the governing body for collegiate mock trial competitions across the country. The approval meant Morgan’s team could then compete on the national stage, joining more than 380 mock trial teams and bringing the total number of those representing HBCUs to three: Morgan, Howard and Dillard.
“Our first year was all about proving we belonged,” Revell said. “We (learned) how to read legal cases, perform examinations and present arguments like real attorneys.”
The self-funded team — which includes President-Elect Taylor Johnson, Secretary Jasmine Jefferson, Treasurer Robin Ford and several others —hit the ground running. With dedicated support from their attorney coach, Cannon C. Kearney, managing partner of the New York-based Kearney Law Group, the students prepared for their first competitions. They participated in invitational tournaments, including one in Upstate New York, gaining experience and building credibility.
The Kearney cousins—advisor Richard and Coach Cannon, whom the team affectionately (and with courtroom decorum) refers to as “Mr. K”—fostered a dynamic environment that has produced a hard-nosed, ambitious, and highly motivated mock trial team that shares a deeper bond.
“Yes, we're like a family, I tell you,” Revell affirmed.
Their hard work culminated in this Spring 2025 semester, when the team competed at AMTA Regionals in February, held at American University in Washington, DC. Among 23 participating teams, Morgan was one of only two HBCUs represented.
“Walking into that room, surrounded by schools with more experience and more resources, was intimidating,” said Revell. “But the moment we began our arguments, we realized we absolutely belonged.”
“It was surreal,” said Revell. “We realized that even with less experience, we could hold our own against teams that had been competing for years.”
That realization is sparking interest and generating buzz across campus. The team continues to grow in numbers and ambition, holding practices twice a week, engaging in peer-to-peer legal training and preparing to return to competition with renewed strength in the upcoming season.
Added Kearney, “This founding team set a solid foundation for not just Mock Trial competition, but overall strong student leadership at Morgan State University and beyond.”
For Revell, the MSU Mock Trial is more than a resume builder; it’s a legacy.
“This is a space where students can find their voice, sharpen their advocacy skills and imagine themselves in the careers they dream about,” she said. “We’re not just competing. We’re building something that will outlast us.”
And with only her sophomore year behind her, Naja Revell’s legacy is just beginning.
With an eye on national recognition and a growing network of future legal professionals, Revell remains focused.
“We’re not done,” she said. “We’re just getting started.”