Students from Osgoode Hall Law School made legal history in February when they emerged victorious in the first ever Twitter moot court (@twtmoot). (Check out a sampling of the social media reactions in Storify below.)

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, Osgoode students Nikki Petersen and Emelia Baack joined other teams from law schools at Dalhousie University, University of Ottawa, University of British Columbia, and the University of Victoria to argue a mock appeal entirely over the popular social media platform.

Nikki Petersen

Judges Kathleen Mahoney, Omar Ha-Redeye and William Deverell grilled teams in increments of 140 characters or less, in a case about First Nations, coal mining and an endangered caribou herd. Petersen and Baack (Team Osgoode) represented the West Moberly First Nations in the appeal, arguing that the nation’s treaty right to hunt should extend to protecting a particular herd of caribou from coal mining impacts.

The moot’s opening tweet set the tone for the lively debate that followed:

“All Rise – the Supreme #Twitter Court of Canada is now in session. @ProfMahoney @OmarHaRedeye @BillDeverell presiding #STCC #twtmoot”

Despite the constraints of Twitter’s 140-character limit, the experience was not unlike that of a real court, said Baack.

“I think that in both venues, time also absolutely flies by and there is never enough time to say everything that you might want to,” she said.  “I must say, though, having to refresh the twitter feed constantly is somewhat different and more time-consuming in itself than simply having to listen to your opponent or co-counsel speak.”

Emelia Baack

For a tweet-by-tweet recap of the arguments, go to twitter.com/#!/wcelaw/twtmoot or search the hastag #twtmoot to see all posts, including those from outside commenters.

“Wonderful news about Team Osgoode’s victory in the first Twitter moot!” said Osgoode Dean Lorne Sossin (@DeanSossin). “Congratulations to all of the participants, especially Osgoode students Nikki Petersen and Emelia Baack, on breaking new ground in legal debate.”

Andrew Gage, staff lawyer with West Coast Environmental Law and Twitter moot administrator, congratulated Team Osgoode on their win on behalf of the organizers and judges.

“The Twitter moot organizers and the judges would like to congratulate Emelia and Nicole on their win,” Gage said. “All of the teams did an incredible job and did their universities proud.”

In addition to bragging rights, Petersen and Baack will split a $500 prize. Team Osgoode was sponsored by Saxe Law Office. The event was organized by West Coast Environmental Law.

Storify: Law students make history