Trial Advocacy School Instructors
If you would like to connect, or have any questions for our faculty, click on an instructor's name below to send them an e-mail.
Tom Weilert
# of Jury Trials:
Over 250
After graduating from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1975, Mr. Weilert became a prosecutor for the City of Wichita and then an Assistant District Attorney in Sedgwick County.
In 1980 he entered private practice where he handled criminal defense and personal injury litigation. He also argued before the United States Supreme Court in Kansas v. Hendricks, the first case testing sexually violent predator statutes.
He returned to prosecution in 1999 where he served as a trial mentor while prosecuting homicides, crimes against persons and vehicular deaths.
Mr. Weilert joined the National College of District Attorneys in January, 2005.
In addition to his duties as an assistant Director of Programs, he also served as the Assistant Director of the National Center for Prosecution Ethics.
In 2010, Mr. Weilert returned to Sedgwick County as a Chief Assistant District Attorney. He retired from that position in 2018.
Marc Bennett
# of Jury Trials:
150, including 28 murder cases
Before his election to the position of District Attorney, Marc Bennett was a Deputy District Attorney and served in the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office for 15 years where he supervised the prosecution of sex crimes, human trafficking, domestic violence and elder abuse. Mr. Bennett attended Kansas State University and Washburn University School of Law. Mr. Bennett is a member of several boards of directors including the Exploited and Missing Child Unit (EMCU); the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Coalition; the Sedgwick County Child Advocacy Center; and the National District Attorneys Association. He was the chair of the Kansas Criminal Justice Reform Commission (2019-2021). He is a former president of the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association and was named Kansas Prosecutor of the Year by that organization in 2018. He is an appointee to the Kansas Prosecutor’s Grievance and Ethics Committee. He was named Criminal Justice Professional of the Year in 2022 by the Wichita Metro Crime Commission. Mr. Bennett has made presentations to the Kansas Legislature; the National Advocacy Center in South Carolina; the FBI Annual C.O.D.I.S. symposium in Washington, D.C.; the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center; the Crimes Against Children Conference in Dallas, Texas; the Attorney General’s Crimes Against Children Conference, Cheyenne, Wyoming; and the US Attorney’s Crimes Against Children Conference, Wichita, Kansas.
Chris McMullin
# of Jury Trials:
Over 130
Chris McMullin is the Chief Deputy District Attorney for the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office (Tenth Judicial District), & the current President of the Kansas County and District Attorney’s Association.
"I have been a prosecutor since 1991—around 32 years including my internship."
Jennifer Tatum
# of Jury Trials:
She has served as the lead prosecutor in over 100 jury trials ranging from theft to homicide
Jennifer Tatum is a career prosecutor who resides in Kansas City, Kansas with her dog Finn. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, travel, and participating in runs that she does not adequately train for. She currently serves as the Chief Prosecuting Attorney at the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.
Years practicing:
2005-2018- Wyandotte County, Kansas. Left as a Deputy Prosecutor.
2018-2022- Jackson County, Missouri. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in the Violent Crimes Unit.
2022- to present- Douglas County, Kansas, Chief Prosecuting Attorney.
18 years total prosecution experience.
Shannon Wilson
# of Jury Trials:
More than 70 jury trials, at least 15 of which were homicides and hundreds of bench trials
Shannon R. Wilson graduated Washburn University School of Law. She began her career as a prosecutor in 2004. She is currently a Chief Attorney of the Criminal Trial Division.
She supervises six trial attorneys and maintains a caseload of high level felonies in the areas of child sexual/physical abuse, domestic violence and homicide.
Ms. Wilson completed her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Friends University. She holds a Master of Administration of Justice from Wichita State University.
Ms. Wilson is a member of the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association (KCDAA), the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) and the Wichita Bar Association. She is currently the chairperson of the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association (KCDAA). She is also chairperson of the Criminal Practice Committee of the Wichita Bar Association.
Kimberly Rodebaugh
# of Jury Trials:
Over her career, she has prosecuted over 60 jury trials ranging from white-collar crimes, drug distributions, sex crime prosecutions, and homicide
Kimberly began her legal career as a prosecutor in 1992 at the Lyon County Attorney’s Office.
She then prosecuted in the 18th Judicial District as a Sedgwick County Assistant District Attorney.
After prosecuting in that office, she accepted a position as the Senior Legal Instructor at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center where she trained thousands of new officers from around the state.
After teaching for many years, she was offered a job with the United States Attorney’s Office in Wichita and served as an Assistant United States Attorney.
She left the United States Attorney’s Office after a few years to be closer to home to care for her aging parents in Reno County. She currently serves as a Senior Assistant District Attorney.
Will Hurst
# of Jury Trials:
49
Will Hurst is from Goddard, Kansas and has been prosecuting for 16 years. Fort Hays State graduate in 2004. Graduated from KU Law in winter of 2006. Interned in law school in Franklin, Sedgwick and Wyandotte.
"Started as a prosecutor in Franklin County for first 5 years, then went to Johnson County in 2011. Now I focus largely on domestic violence prosecution with an emphasis on prosecuting such cases with uncooperative or absent victims. Live in Olathe with wife Tracie and daughters Hazel and Haddie."