US Sikh girl wins best advocate award at Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition

Posted: 22 Feb 2017

Pittsburgh, PA, USA—On February 18, 2017, Sikh law student Tejkaran Kaur became the first Sikh to ever win the best oral advocate award in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition.  The Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition is a national moot court competition that takes place every year.
Tejkaran Kaur is currently perusing her law degree at the Washington and Lee School of Law. She is a third year student and has a full merit scholarship.  As a practicing Sikh, Tejkaran wears a turban and is the only Sikh at her school.  As a turban wearing female in a primarily Caucasian school, she stands out due to her distinct Sikh identity.
At this years Fredrick Douglass inter-school competition, her legal knowledge, her passion and articulation stood out from the rest.  This annual competition is meant to allow law students a platform where they can develop skills and compete for the title of best advocate.  The competition focuses primarily on public and civil rights law, along with topics of particular relevance to communities of color.
Every year hundreds of students from law schools across the United States, compete in front of tough judges.  The students are judged on their presentation and oral ability as well as knowledge of the law.  Tejkaran Kaur was the only Sikh at the competition.
Tejkaran Kaur has been an active member of the Sikh Community, her whole life and has participated in countless symposiums, gurmat camps and Sikh youth programs. In undergrad, she founded the Queens College Sikh Club.  With her law degree, she hopes to fight for the social justice our religion is based on.