The Grade 12 law students — Rio Maligaya, Arblina Badal, Lauren Johnston and Samantha Nolan — stood before the Ontario Court of Appeal on May 28 as finalists in Charter Challenge, a province-wide program run by the Ontario Justice Education Network. The all-female group won the right to represent the appellant side — arguing that Bill C-31, a federal immigration bill currently under review in the House of Commons, is indeed constitutional. The opposing view was argued by a team from Cawthra Park Secondary School in Mississauga, Ont.

For Baumgartner, this day meant a lot, both to the students and to him.

“It was a pretty amazing day,” he said. “There was definitely a feeling of accomplishment and a feeling of what’s it like (to do) what … lawyers do.”

In the end, a panel of three judges — Associate Chief Justice Dennis O’Connor as well as two lawyers who stepped into the role for the day — failed to reach a unanimous verdict. Two sided with Cawthra Park and one with St. Mary’s. But Maligaya said regardless of the verdict, it was a great fight — and an even better learning experience.

“It was really exciting and enlightening and interesting to see what it’s like to be a lawyer in the Ontario Court of Appeal,” Maligaya said.

“Going into it, we just wanted to get a good mark on our project. I was really, really shocked (when we were selected as finalists.) It’s pretty pressuring but it’s … a really great opportunity.

Baumgartner praised the hard work of his team.

“They prepared many, many hours for this,” Baumgartner said. “They took away what it feels like to be a lawyer, and what is some of the hard work involved with being a lawyer.”

Jessica Reekie, the director of programs at the Ontario Justice Education Network, said the quality of work from both sides was incredible.

“It’s really quite amazing how the students will always exceed our expectations,” Reekie said. “It’s very impressive what Grade 11 and Grade 12 students are able to do in such a short time frame.”

Maligaya, who still has one more year of high school, said the competition might have swayed her into the direction of law by giving her a taste of it. But for now, it’s just a competition.  Baumgartner said the whole experience was very memorable.

“I feel very proud of them,” he said. “(To get to that level,) it’s kind of like, wow!”