Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Managing Expert Testimony in the Courtroom

Written by Michelle Cardenas

Recently, the LEAP Ambassadors had the opportunity to attend a unique and eye-opening event held in the Kerper Courtroom at Sam Houston State University. The event involved a simulated cross-examinations of “expert witnesses” (Forensic Psychology PhD students in Dr. Mary Conroy’s class) and was led by Dr. Roberts, the Director of Student Legal Mediation Services at SHSU, and members of the Texas Special Prosecution Unit staff.

At first, many of us were intrigued just to be part of something so different from our usual experiences. We expected it to be interesting and informative, but we quickly realized it was much more than that. It was a serious and highly structured simulation that gave us a real look into how psychological expertise is challenged in legal settings.

The purpose of the exercise was to prepare PhD students to serve as expert witnesses in court. Their job was to take the stand and, under direct and cross-examination, clearly explain their thought process, justify their evaluations of competency, and walk through why they chose the specific diagnoses they did based on the case scenarios they were given.

What really stood out was the cross-examination portion. After presenting their initial assessments, the students were then put under pressure by Dr. Roberts. He did not make it easy on them. The questioning became more intense and detailed, often pushing into areas like their professional publications, academic background, and even social media presence. The goal was to realistically simulate how an opposing attorney might attempt to challenge or discredit an expert witness in court.

Even under pressure, most of the students remained composed, answering all the questions with clarity and, perhaps to a slightly lesser extent, confidence. It was impressive to watch how they maintained their professionalism while being challenged so directly.

After everything concluded, the students took time to reflect on the experience. They discussed what they felt they did well, what challenged them, and what they could improve moving forward. That reflection piece really helped tie everything together and showed just how important communication and preparation are when serving as an expert witness.

We also had the chance to hear from Jack Choate from the Special Prosecutions Unit and other experts and audience members, who shared helpful insight and practical advice. His perspective helped connect what we had just seen to real world legal practice and gave the students additional guidance on what to expect in the field.

Overall, the event was incredibly informative and genuinely engaging. It gave us a deeper understanding of the intersection between psychology and law and highlighted how demanding it is to stand as an expert in a courtroom setting. Dr. Roberts and Erin Faseler and her staff at SPU did a great job facilitating the entire experience, leaving all of us with a new appreciation for the level of preparation and skill this kind of work requires.

There is never a dull moment at the Senior Center.

Written by Jacob Wessels

Between the shuffling of cards and the high-stakes intensity of bingo, the Walker County Senior Center truly serves as an amazing place for seniors to get together and support each other. This week balanced the usual fun and laughter with some very important conversations about safety in the digital age.

Before the presentation, we spent the morning playing bingo with the seniors, which is always one of the highlights of our visits. There is something special about sitting together, sharing laughs, and enjoying the friendly competition. It is always a great experience whenever we get the opportunity to visit the Senior Center, and I especially enjoy hearing perspectives and life experiences from a different generation. Every conversation carries wisdom, humor, and stories that you simply cannot learn anywhere else.

Today, the Senior Center had a guest speaker, Detective Roberts, who stopped by to give both the seniors and LEAP students the “lowdown” on elder fraud. While we like to think of the Senior Center as a safe haven, the world of text messages, emails, and even the traditional mailbox can sometimes harbor unwanted guests.

Detective Roberts explained some of the most common tactics scammers are using today, including the “Urgent” Text messages claiming your bank account has been locked or that a package is “pending delivery,” even when you have not ordered anything. He also warned about the “Phony Check” scam, in which scammers send “refund” checks for more money than expected and then ask victims to wire back the “extra” funds before the check eventually bounces. Another growing threat is the “Digital Imposter,” where AI-generated emails are designed to look exactly like they came from a grandson, family member, or trusted business.

The detective’s biggest piece of advice was very simple “If it feels urgent, it’s probably a scam.”

After the presentation, everyone gathered together for lunch, giving us more time to continue conversations and enjoy one another’s company. Days like this remind us that the Senior Center is more than just a place for activities — it is a community built on connection, learning, and shared experiences.

The Senior Center is a lifeline for many in our community. Through programs like Meals on Wheels, volunteers work every day to alleviate hunger, promote independence, and ensure that no senior in Walker County feels isolated or forgotten. Spending time here reminds us just how important these connections and services truly are, not only for the seniors but for everyone fortunate enough to be part of the experience.

Rethinking Iran with Seyed Mousavian

LEAP students had the unusual opportunity to hear from a former high-ranking Iranian official while the US is at war with the country it believes to be an active supporter of worldwide terrorism. Thanks to the World Affairs Council, LEAP students were able to hear divergent views–sometimes sharply so–on Iran’s support of terror, nuclear energy program, and other activities that affect international relations.

Following an introduction by WAC CEO Maryanne Maldonado…

…Ronan O’Malley began a moderated discussion with Mousavian. The former Ambassador is working on a book about the United States’ policy toward Iran from the perspective of Presidents Obama (negotiations), Trump (America First), Biden (benign neglect), and Trump (War).

In addition to having served in high-ranking government positions, Mousavian’s credentials also include an MA in International Relations from the University of Tehran and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Kent. He currently teaches at Princeton University.

Mousavian made several assertions, and at times, he made them forcefully:

Iran has been the most inspected country in the world, and these inspections, at least since 2015, have not uncovered any evidence that Iran has made an effort to make nuclear weapons;
Israel is the “elephant in the room,” and unless discussions about Israel are included in Iran-US discussions, no real or permanent progress will be made;
He, Seyed Mousavian, is not guilty of any crimes, nor does he support terrorism.

At least one person in the room objected to the latter point forcefully. In fact, he stood up and scolded the former Ambassador before he was removed by WAC staff and security.

For his part, O’Malley did his due diligence in digging a bit deeper into some of Mousavian’s claims–particularly about the brutality of Iran’s regime–but Mousavian gave no ground. Indeed, at times his claims were sweeping, as when he suggested that the UN always gave clean marks on its inspections of Iran (see, for example, this article).

In the end, such questions are not likely to be answered in an hour-long discussion, but for the open-minded, the discussion led to new facts to be considered, even as it may have reinforced some preexisting beliefs.

Although all of us took away different thoughts about the Iran-US War, we all agreed that this type of event is what the university experience should be: exposure to new ideas by informed speakers on provocative topics.

Mary’z Mediterranean Cuisine

We discussed some of these topics at dinner following the event. In LEAP fashion, we chose a restaurant that specialized in mediterranean cuisine, allowing us to further explore Iranian culture. We chose Mary’z, which turned out to be a wise choice.

Beginning with a sampler appetizer, we were able to explore dolmades (excellent), kibbi, sfeeha (very good), and falafel (also excellent).

For dinner, we had various dishes, including beef shwarma, chicken kebab, kafta kebab, and beef kebab, and a felafel plate. In typical LEAP fashion, we sampled from each other’s plates, and there was general consensus that the kafta and the chicken kebabs were the best among an excellent sampling of dishes.

For many students, it was their first time having Mediterranean food, and even if they had enjoyed this culinary tradition, they were able to sample a new dish.

The excellent food capped off an evening of education, exploration, lively debate, and good company, all LEAP hallmarks!

SHSU’s Pre-Law Insights: Constitutional Law and More from the Texas Bar Association

One of the virtues of attending SHSU is its pre-law program, which offers a robust pre-law society, a legal studies minor, many law-related courses, and numerous extra-curricular activities. And so it was that on the last day of finals, three pre-law society members attended the Texas Bar Association’s training on “Litigating the Constitution” at the Texas Law Center near the Texas capitol building.

20 Years of Changes in Constitutional Law

The first session was appropriate for the early morning inasmuch as it was led by the energetic Chad Baruch. In 30 minutes, Baruch covered gun control, religious freedoms, the takings clause, student speech, abortion, judicial deference, affirmative action, and more–and he managed to do this while addressing major changes across all these topics.

The changes loomed larger because it was telescoped into a thirty-minute format, and while all the changes in the diverse policy areas were interesting, two areas stood out. In discussing religious freedom and, specifically, Lemon, Baruch made a comment that could have applied to the whole session:

If you are roughly my age, about 60, having taken constitutional law in college was a serious impediment to your legal education, because almost everything you learned has been overturned.

Also noteworthy were Baruch’s comments on student speech, not only because he was a high-school principal, but also because, as students, this is a topic that naturally interests us. In particular, Baruch discussed the Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. (2021), in which a student who did not make the cheerleading team posted on social media something like the following: “Fuck school fuck softball fuck cheer fuck everything.”

Notably, Baruch was wearing a t-shirt with exactly those words, an homage to the case.

He made clear his stance on this, observing that the “Court got it right,” paraphrasing the opinion as noting that, for a 17-year old student, social media was her town hall–the place in which ideas, no matter how offensive, shallow or foolish, should be offered, challenged, and debated.

The 4th Amendment, Technology, and Privacy

One of the highlights of the day was the presentation by Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Justice Kevin Yeary, who discussed how technology and the amenities of modern society have intruded on the 4th Amendment.

Justice Yeary hit on many historically key cases, including Katz v. US (1967), before highlighting big changes in the last ten years. In Riley (2014), for example, law enforcement agencies prohibited the search of cell phones without a search warrant and in Carpenter (2018) the Court held that location data from cell phone towers also requires a search warrant, limiting the third-party doctrine.

But with Moore’s Law in full effect, technology continues to advance, and the courts are struggling to keep up. Justice Yeary mentioned that one case before the Court, Chatrie v. US, will also affect how law enforcement do their jobs, as well as, of course, how lower courts rule on similar cases. And speaking of lower Courts, Justice Yeary mentioned that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals found it difficult to weigh in on these topics without clear guidance from the USSC.

A Broader View

Other valuable sessions included topics such as executive privilege, in which the Youngstown case–which we covered in Professor Yawn’s Con Law class extensively–was discussed at length.

In an interesting session on the USSC and precedent, Judge Jordan and Matthew Kolodoski, the panelists noted that, despite the headlines, the Roberts court has overturned fewer precedents than the last five courts, on average.

And while all the sessions were timely, Eric Opelia’s presentation on recent cases on voting rights was perhaps the most timely. Indeed, he mentioned that he thought that the Louisiana v. Callais (2026) case would be his late-breaking news for this presentation, given that it was decided by the Court fewer than ten days ago. The Virginia Supreme Court, however, decided in the last 24 hours that Virginia’s recent redistricting election (which passed, to the Democratic Party’s favor) was unconstitutional. This may head to the USSC, but either way, it adds uncertainty to the districts up for grabs in the 2026 mid-term elections.

We were also privileged to hear from two members of the Governor’s Staff, including Jason Bramow and Trevor Ezell, the latter of whom gave the Gregory Coleman Federalism lecture.

We also heard from Judge Farris, as well as two scholarly presentations by law professors on constitutional enumeration and originalism.

Concluding Thoughts

This was a unique way for us to supplement our constitutional law classroom experience, with presentations by practicing attorneys. That we were able to glean so much information in only one day speaks well of the presenters and organizers.

We were very grateful to attend this event, and the outgoing and incoming Presidents (Matthew Kolodoski and Judge Rossini, respectively) were very welcoming, even when they learned we were undergraduates.

Sharing Memories with Alumni and the PLS

Written by Madison Thurkettle

Pre-Law Society members gathered for our final meeting of the semester, and what we thought would be a typical guest speaker quickly turned into an alumnus reliving his college days and sharing his fascinating career experience. We welcomed Lane Thibodeaux back to SHSU, with Professor Mike Yawn moderating, and for those of us who had just seen him earlier this month at the 10th Court of Appeals at SHSU, we knew we were in for a good discussion.

Instead of a perfectly scripted “how I became a lawyer” story, Thibodeaux gave us a story of his failures and how he succeeded from learning from them. He didn’t start out on a clear path to law school. In fact, he began in animal science here at SHSU before realizing his strengths were in writing, argument, and critical thinking. It wasn’t until taking classes like philosophy and legal philosophy—especially with Professor Jim Carter—that everything clicked. His biggest takeaway? Sometimes one class (or one professor) can completely change your direction.

He also didn’t sugarcoat the realities of law school or the profession. From the cost of law school to the emotional demands of legal work—especially in criminal defense and capital cases—he made it clear that this career is not for the faint of heart. But at the same time, he showed why you should do this, because the work matters.

One of the most interesting parts of the meeting was hearing him break down the difference between trial work and appellate work. Trial law is fast-paced, people-centered, and unpredictable, while appellate work focuses more on writing, research, and analyzing the law itself. For him, appellate work offered something unique: the ability to help shape the law, not just work within it.

Now working with the Public Defender’s Office in Brazos County, Thibodeaux also gave insight into public defense and the importance of providing quality representation for all clients. He even mentioned internship opportunities, which definitely caught the attention of students looking to get involved.

To close out this wonderful meeting, we held our cording ceremony, recognizing one of the largest graduating classes in Pre-Law Society history. We had the pleasure of wishing 34 of our students, including four officers, the best of luck in their future journey, turning May 2026 into a real blessing for everyone.

As the semester comes to an end, we’re excited to see what’s ahead—both for a new executive board and for new members joining the organization. If this meeting showed us anything, it’s that there’s no single path to law, but there’s always something to learn along the way.

Tune in to next semester–we have a game night on September 2, and a “How to Get Into Law School” on September 16.

A Capitol Day in Austin

It was a busy time. Sandwiched between finals and SHSU move-out day, we took a quick trip to Austin to attend a conference and visit the capitol building, where some of us would like to intern in the spring of 2027. We made the most of it.

While Jacob and Zackery had visited the capitol building, it was Kayla’s first time. But for all of us, we had a chance to learn more, armed with information from Professor Yawn’s oft-given tours.

We learned that all the hinges on doors in the TX capitol have the State Seal on them, and that they are eight-by-eight, weighing around seven pounds…

…and that even the door knobs are photogenic.

We stopped by the Treasurer’s Office, which has been restored to its early 1900s look, and has many artifacts in the space.

We also went to the Rotunda, where one individual was enthusiastically exercising his free speech rights (which endured our entire tour of almost two hours)…

The Rotunda also displays 47 of Texas’s 48 Governors, with only Abbott missing. (Governor Abbott will not have his portrait done until he leaves office.) We picked out some of the more notable ones, including Governor Bush, who of course, went on to be President…

…and, of course, we found Sam Houston’s portrait.

With each new governor, every portrait has to be moved over one spot, all the way up the rotunda…

We also learned more about Elizabet Ney and her sculptures, while also exploring the House and Senate, giving us a chance to see some of the more picturesque scenes from the statehouse and giving us a chance to practice some photography.

We also explored the ground floor, where we saw the Medal of Honor display which seemed sort of lonely…

…the extension…

…where we saw the capitol dome through a skylight, and a bust of SHSU alum Gib Lewis, former Speaker of the TX House.

It was an educational morning, with lessons on the legislature and the capitol’s many connections to SHSU and Sam Houston the man.

Skipjack Oyster

Nestled in downtown Austin is Skipjack Oyster, about which our advisor spoke highly. Striking a balance between high-end and casual and relaxed coastal-inspired decor with lively energy, it was an escape from the busy pace of the capitol.

For appetizers, we tried some Oysters, including samples from six different locations across the United States and Canada, ranging from salty and briny to sweet to acidic, giving us a sense of how much variation can occur from the same food item!

We also tried the Salmon dip, which is smoked and adorned with chives and boursin, a creamy French cheese flavored with herbs. This made the perfect dip for chips that were delicious–indeed, we ran out of chips before we ran out of dip!

For the main entrees, Jacob and Zackery–who share a brain, apparently–ordered the Redfish, which offered a nice mixture of mild seafood flavor, supplemented by a tangy green tomato relish.

Kayla enjoyed the Seafood Tagliatelle, which featured clams, shrimp, mussels, herbs, white wine, and tomatoes. The sauce was perfect, well-seasoned, and complemented the different types of seafood.

This was, in turn, complemented by the Lobster Mac and Cheese, which was both large and scrumptious, offering a grated cheese and healthy portions of lobster.

Of course, we capped off the dinner with dessert, consisting of a banana cream pie and bread pudding, with the former winning votes as favorite.

In just a few hours, we were able to enjoy key elements of Austin: the capitol, its politics, policy, and tourism scenes, and the food, which is always a delight and sometimes the highlight!

Fun in the Sun at the CASA Kids Expo

Written by Kayla Fleming

It’s often said that the strength of a community is found in the opportunities it creates for its people—especially its youth. Building on that idea, CASA of Walker County hosted their 3rd annual Kids Expo, bringing together organizations, families, and volunteers for a day centered around connection, learning and supporting youth.

The event was organized by Laura Green, Director of Development for CASA of Walker County. Situated in the parking lot and grounds of Huntsville Church of Christ, organizations from across the community set up tents, activities, food, and entertainment, while mascots such as the Chick-fil-A Cow, the EASCO Duck, and HEB Buddy roamed the grounds.

Central to everything were a series of featured programs, beginning with a heart-melting puppet show. Families could enjoy the synchronized dances of the Huntsville ISD Drill Team, the tumbles and flips from the Pocket Aces Cheer Company, the curated styles of the Buck & Bo Fashion show and the swirling bright colors of the Ballet Folklorico.

Informational booths included emergency services, the City of Huntsville’s Parks & Recreation (Good to see you Michelle and Joseph!), the ever-present Rob Hipp, Huntsville Memorial Hospital (good to see you Brian Goldgar!), one of our favorite bakeries (Yolk and On Bakery), Cenikor (good to see you salvador Favela!), Sam Houston State University (Good to see you Courtney Chastine!), rock wall climbing, food options, and many more.

LEAP brought together 14 of the volunteers, all positioned in the Kid’s Zone, where many of the games and activities for children were housed.

There was a mini-train, run by our Laura Green’s very own Glenngineer; a foam party by the playground in the back; three bouncy-houses for different ages; face painting; archery and a photobooth. Towards the back, there was a petting zoo offering miniature pony rides and families the chance to interact with animals such as bunnies, pigs, ducks, a llama, goats, and a tortoise. Elliot’s Jewelers sponsored a Balloon Artist and a “sketches to sparkle” Jewelry design contest for the ages 5-12.

And while we were at it, Professor Yawn decided to climb the firetruck ladder…

…for some aerial shots.

To end this wonderful event, CASA did drawings for four bicycles, making some families very happy.

As the day wrapped up, the volunteers posed for a group photo, with the train as a backdrop, and we all got our first ride on a train!

We and many of the other volunteers helped take down the event, moving chairs and tables and such, and we were able to call it a day’s work. And while volunteering involves work, it was also a lot of fun, made even more satisfying by knowing that many families had a good time at an event that is rapidly becoming a Huntsville tradition.

Balancing AI Innovation and Safety: Key Insights from WAC–Houston

Written by Jacob Wessels

LEAP Students gathered for an World Affairs Council oxford style debate at Rice university yesterday. To tackle a question that’s becoming harder to ignore in today’s world: should democratic nations prioritize AI capability over AI safety? The event brought together policymakers, tech experts, and investors for a lively discussion that felt less like a lecture and more like a real look at where the world is heading.

The evening started with a quick introduction to the panel, but it wasn’t just a list of dry credentials, this was a broad list of expertise! On one end, you had Representative Giovanni Capriglione, who brought the weight of a lawmaker who has actually written Texas’s AI frameworks. Then there was Mario Rodriguez, whose experience operating Sophia the Robot moved the conversation from “what if” to the reality of humanoid engineering.

Instead of debating a “future” version of AI, Brad Groux spoke from the perspective of someone building cloud-based AI for organizations right now, while George Ploss, a Marine veteran and Oracle director reframed the tech as a critical piece of national security and the defense industrial base.

The pro-capability side framed AI as an urgent geopolitical race. One speaker argued that democratic nations cannot afford to slow innovation, emphasizing that AI is already defending critical infrastructure such as power grids and financial systems. In their view, prioritizing safety through heavy restrictions risks ceding technological leadership to authoritarian regimes. The argument was straightforward: in a world of rapid advancement, falling behind is more dangerous than moving too fast.

They also highlighted some of the benefits AI is delivering right now such as early cancer detection and more access to education, pointing out that slowing development isn’t just cautious; it could delay life saving breakthroughs and prolong existing inequalities. Their main message was that democratic values, combined with existing legal frameworks, are enough to guide responsible innovation without stifling progress.

On the other side, the safety-focused speakers challenged the very framing of the debate. Rather than a race, they described AI as a strategic system more comparable to nuclear technology than consumer software. Drawing on lessons from Cold War deterrence, they argued that unchecked capability without control creates instability, not strength. In this view, safety isn’t a barrier to progress, it’s what makes progress sustainable.

They pointed to real-world risks, including simulations where AI systems behaved unpredictably, as evidence that reliability and oversight must come first. Without embedded safeguards, even the most advanced systems could become liabilities. One speaker emphasized that democracies should not try to “win” by mimicking less accountable regimes, warning that doing so would undermine the very values that give them legitimacy and global influence.

What really stuck with me from the safety side was their focus on trust. They argued that long term leadership depends not just on what a nation can build, but on whether allies and citizens trust those systems. In a world shaped by alliances like NATO, credibility and shared values may matter as much as raw technological power.

The audience Q&A added another layer to the discussion, with individuals–including Robin and Mikaela–asking practical and philosophical questions.

What made the debate especially engaging was how much common ground existed beneath the disagreement. Both sides acknowledged the importance of innovation and the inevitability of AI’s growth. The real divide was about sequencing and emphasis: should capability lead with safety following, or should safety be built in from the start?

Like many World Affairs Council events, the debate didn’t aim to deliver a definitive answer. Instead, it encouraged critical thinking and deeper engagement. As AI continues to evolve, the question raised that evening will only become more urgent: how do we balance the drive to innovate with the responsibility to protect?

For LEAP, the evening carried an extra layer of significance beyond the debate itself. This was Michelle’s final event with us, and having her there to lead the way one last time made the night feel like the end of an era. It was a reminder that while we spent so much time discussing the “inevitable” growth of technology helping us better our world, it’s actually the people and the mentors we work with who help us become better versions of ourselves.

Walking out of the O’conner building, I couldn’t shake the idea that the tech is actually the easy part. The hard part is the governance. We aren’t just building faster tools; we’re deciding who or what gets to stay in the driver’s seat of our society!

	Multi-Platform Media… on Fun and Flavor: Chilly at the…
	Highlights from the… on Glazing-A-Trail with Lauren…
	The Civic Leadership… on Foundational Activities of the…
	The Civic Leadership… on The Philosophical Foundations…
	LEAPing Into Action… on The Philosophical Foundations…