Liberals are magicians. Through sleights of hand and by proroguing Parliament, the Liberals could yet win another election with a new leader.

Not so fast, shout defenders of democracy. David MacKinnon and Aris Lavranos — both living in Nova Scotia, both lawyers — have asked the Federal Court to weigh in on whether Trudeau’s proroguing of Parliament was legal. Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, a non-profit founded by John Carpay, offered up a legal team from Charter Advocates Canada. And on Feb. 13 and 14, Chief Justice Paul Crampton heard arguments for and against prorogation, and committed to rendering a swift decision before the issue becomes moot.