Alyssa Kim, Robert Marquette and Bernadette McMechan were in for a welcome surprise when an email from Dean Paton appeared in their inboxes on November 24.
It was an invitation to attend a question and answer session with newest Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) nominee (and UAlberta Law alumna), Justice Sheilah L. Martin in Ottawa, in response to a request from the Prime Minister's Office.
On December 5, the students gathered (and sat in second row!) in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Canada's capital, to hear Justice Martin answer questions publicly for the first time following her nomination.
The attendees asking questions included members of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, the House Justice and Human Rights Committee and representatives from the Bloc Québécois and Green Party. Each were given four and a half minutes for his or her question, some of which were asked (and subsequently answered by Justice Martin) in French.
McMechan, who in October was in Ottawa for the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) meeting for its National Student Section, said she had never been truly star struck until that day.
"It was amazing to be in the middle of all these inspiring people who are making decisions for our country," she said.
All of the students praised Justice Martin's informed responses to questions, and her ability to use discretion when necessary (she couldn't comment on jurisprudence, legislation, case law or cases currently before the SCC).
"She was phenomenal at answering the questions while staying within the bounds of the Q&A" said Marquette, who will article this summer with Alberta Justice.
Following the Q&A session, in a surprise (and welcome) turn of events, they were given the chance to take a photo with Justice Martin - the only students there who were given the opportunity to do so as a small group.
After the photo was taken, they recalled Justice Martin asking why they were in Ottawa. When they responded with "to see you!" she was surprised, they said.
"She was the most impressive, but most approachable, person," said Kim, who will article this summer at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Toronto.
The excitement didn't end there. Following the Q&As, they went to the SCC and got to see not only the Supreme but also the Federal Court of Appeal.
"I never thought that in my entire career I would end up at the SCC for any reason," said Kim.
Now back in Edmonton, Kim, Marquette and McMechan say they'll look back fondly on the trip as one of their most memorable experiences of law school - a trip that will likely leave them inspired for many years to come.