News Summary
The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School proudly announces the victory of Jeff Berkowitz and Christopher Tarakji in the 2026 Edwin R. Keedy Cup Moot Court Competition. The pair distinguished themselves through their compelling arguments in the case of Olivier v. City of Brandon, with Tarakji receiving the Best Oralist award. This prestigious competition showcases the legal research and advocacy skills of students, serving as a platform for developing future legal leaders.
Philadelphia, PA – The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School is celebrating its latest champions, with Jeff Berkowitz L’26 and Christopher Tarakji L’26 emerging as the victors of the prestigious 2026 Edwin R. Keedy Cup Moot Court Competition. The Penn Carey Law community, including Dean Sophia Lee, extended congratulations to the pair following their impressive performance in the intramural advocacy event.
Berkowitz and Tarakji Secure Victory in Key Legal Argument
The winning team, Berkowitz and Tarakji, skillfully argued on behalf of the petitioner in this year’s case, Olivier v. City of Brandon. Christopher Tarakji L’26 was also individually recognized for his outstanding oral advocacy, receiving the distinction of Best Oralist for the competition. Representing the respondents in the keenly contested final round were Caroline Kranick L’26 and Samendra Prasad L’26. The final arguments were presented before a distinguished panel of sitting federal judges in Fitts Auditorium.
Understanding the Edwin R. Keedy Cup
The Edwin R. Keedy Cup stands as the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School’s primary intramural moot court competition, serving as the culmination of extensive brief writing and oral advocacy training. The competition is named in honor of Edwin R. Keedy, who served as Dean of the Law School during World War II. It is designed to hone students’ legal research, writing, and argumentation skills, providing a practical, real-world experience in appellate advocacy.
The Rigorous Competition Structure
The path to the Keedy Cup Finals is a rigorous one, beginning in the spring semester when all second-year J.D. students are invited to participate in the Keedy Cup Preliminaries. These preliminary rounds require students to prepare written briefs based on a pending United States Supreme Court case and engage in three rounds of oral argument. These arguments are judged by panels of practicing lawyers and judges, who evaluate the students’ ability to articulate complex legal positions.
The top four performers from the preliminary stages advance to become finalists during their third year of law school. For the finals, these students are tasked with briefing and arguing a new, pressing Supreme Court case. This culminating event, held live in Fitts Auditorium, features the finalists presenting their arguments before a panel of respected federal judges, mirroring the environment of a real appellate court.
The 2026 Case: Olivier v. City of Brandon
The legal dispute at the heart of the 2026 Keedy Cup was the case of Olivier v. City of Brandon. This case involved Gabriel Olivier, a Christian evangelist, who was convicted in 2021 for violating a city ordinance that prohibited protests and demonstrations outside the city’s amphitheater. Following a no contest plea and payment of a fine with a suspended sentence, Olivier initiated a § 1983 action. He sought prospective injunctive relief to prevent future enforcement of the ordinance, claiming violations of his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
Both the district court and the Fifth Circuit ruled that Olivier’s claim was barred by Heck v. Humphrey, a precedent that precludes § 1983 claims if they would inherently invalidate a state conviction. The Fifth Circuit’s decision led to two significant circuit splits that the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review. The first split concerned whether Heck bars prospective relief claims, creating a conflict with the Ninth and Tenth Circuits. The second addressed whether Heck applies to plaintiffs who never had access to habeas relief because they were not “in custody,” deepening an existing 5-5 circuit split. The case explores the interaction of federal remedial statutes, specifically Section 1983 and Section 2254, with the Heck doctrine designed to prevent circumvention of habeas exhaustion requirements.
Cultivating Legal Excellence and Future Leaders
Winning the Keedy Cup is a significant achievement that underscores a student’s dedication and mastery of legal principles and advocacy skills. The competition serves as a vital platform for students to develop the critical thinking, research, writing, and oral communication abilities essential for successful legal careers. Furthermore, the Keedy Cup plays a role in identifying and nurturing future legal talent, with the next three finalists often selected to represent the Law School in the National Moot Court Competition. The remaining quarter-finalists from the preliminary rounds also form the Moot Court Board in their third year, taking on responsibilities such as administering the competition, selecting cases, recruiting judges, and evaluating briefs and arguments.
A Legacy of Advocacy
The Keedy Cup has a rich history of fostering exceptional legal advocates. In 2025, Ari Goldstein L’25, WG’25, and Douglas Snyder L’25, MBE’26, were crowned the winners, with Goldstein also earning the Best Oralist award. Their case was NVIDIA Corporation v. E. Ohman J:or Fonder AB. Earlier, in 2021, Sarah Lee Best was recognized for her outstanding performance, winning Best Oralist and Best Brief in the competition. These past achievements highlight the enduring legacy of the Keedy Cup in shaping skilled legal professionals at Penn Carey Law.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Keedy Cup
- What is the Keedy Cup?
- The Keedy Cup is the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School’s intramural moot court competition, designed to develop brief writing and oral advocacy skills among its students.
- Who won the 2026 Keedy Cup?
- Jeff Berkowitz L’26 and Christopher Tarakji L’26 won the 2026 Edwin R. Keedy Cup Moot Court Competition.
- Who was named Best Oralist in the 2026 Keedy Cup?
- Christopher Tarakji L’26 was named Best Oralist in the 2026 Keedy Cup.
- What was the case argued in the 2026 Keedy Cup Finals?
- The case argued in the 2026 Keedy Cup Finals was Olivier v. City of Brandon, which involved First and Fourteenth Amendment rights and the application of Heck v. Humphrey.
- Who is the Keedy Cup named after?
- The Keedy Cup is named after Edwin R. Keedy, who served as Dean of the Law School during World War II.
- Who can participate in the Keedy Cup?
- All second-year J.D. students at Penn Carey Law are invited to enter the Keedy Cup Preliminaries.
- What happens to the finalists after the Keedy Cup?
- The next three finalists often become the Law School’s representatives to the National Moot Court Competition, and the remaining quarter-finalists become the Moot Court Board in their third year.
Key Features of the Keedy Cup Competition
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Competition Name | Edwin R. Keedy Cup Moot Court Competition |
| Institution | University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School |
| Purpose | Intramural moot court competition focusing on brief writing and oral advocacy |
| Named After | Edwin R. Keedy, Dean of the Law School during World War II (1880-1958) |
| Eligibility | All second-year J.D. students for preliminary rounds |
| Competition Structure | Preliminary rounds (brief writing, 3 rounds of oral argument) leading to Finals (new Supreme Court case, federal judges) |
| 2026 Winning Team | Jeff Berkowitz L’26 and Christopher Tarakji L’26 |
| 2026 Best Oralist | Christopher Tarakji L’26 |
| 2026 Case Topic | Olivier v. City of Brandon, involving First and Fourteenth Amendment rights and Heck v. Humphrey |
| Significance | Hones legal skills, prepares for litigation, finalists can represent in National Moot Court, quarter-finalists form the Moot Court Board |
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