Today I had a lunch that was a real thrill for the lawyer in me.

I often joke that I was a lawyer for 30 years, but that I have recovered. Well … the fact is I haven’t recovered. And days like this remind me that I don’t want to recover.

I had lunch with all of the Justices of the Canadian Supreme Court in their dining room. Just saying it kind of sends chills down my spine. As a student and then as a lawyer, I learned to revere the Supreme Court in my country. That sentiment carries over to Canada’s Supreme Court.

I am reminded of the famous line from Justice Robert Jackson of the U.S. Supreme Court: “We are not final because we are infallible; we are infallible because we are final.” They were certainly infallible hosts, and couldn’t have been nicer to me.

After lunch I had another thrill. I got a chance to meet with all of the Supreme Court Clerks. They truly are the very best and the very brightest young people Canada has to offer. And they did not disappoint.

I talked a little about what I do as an Ambassador, the state of the US-Canada relationship, and – perhaps most relevantly – how being a lawyer prepared me for my job as a diplomat.

It was quite an afternoon.

DJ