Last week, 24 female students joined four judges, three of them alumnae, for an insightful conversation over dinner at the University Club. Queen’s Law hosted the event, “An Evening with Women Judges,” in cooperation with the International Association of Women Judges.

“It was an amazing opportunity to connect directly with some inspirational figures in the legal profession,” says attendee Natasha Beitman Brener, Law’17. “We got a better understanding of the trajectory of their careers and the unique challenges they have faced as women.”

Participating in the small-group question and answer period were Justice Jean Macfarland, Law’71, (Ontario Court of Appeal), Justice Judith Beaman, Law’75, (Ontario Court of Justice), Justice Anne Trousdale, Law’76, (Superior Court of Justice), and Justice Cheryl Robertson (Superior Court of Justice).

They answered questions about their career paths, their most interesting or difficult cases, and what they like (or dislike) in advocates who appear before them. One memorable story was MacFarland’s detailed account of her work on an African Lion Safari tiger mauling case. In another, Beaman talked about presiding over a newly mandated Commission to investigate what legal remedies, if any, there are for those who were negatively affected by the flawed results of Motherrisk, a clinic that played an important role in a variety of child custody cases but closed recently.

Students enjoyed meeting the judges in a friendly, casual atmosphere. “These women are paving the way for us,” says Beitman Brener, “and for future generations, too.”