Trinity Western University wins legal battle with Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society

Date: July 28, 2016

Photo Credit To Nova Scotia Barristers' Society

Society had argued ‘community covenant’ discriminated against gay people

Nova Scotia’s highest court has upheld a decision to allow future graduates of a conservative and controversial law school to practise in the province.

The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal decision released Tuesday rules in favour of the proposed law school at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C.

The private, Christian university had been turned down by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in 2014 because it requires students and staff to abide by a community covenant. The covenant says students must abstain from sexual intimacy that violates the “sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman.”

The barristers’ society said that covenant violates the Charter of Rights with regards to sexual orientation and so it refused accreditation to graduates.

N.S. barristers’ society can’t block Trinity Western grads: appeal court

The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal from the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society of a decision that allows graduates of a private Christian university to practice in the province.

Trinity Western University ‘s plans to open a law school in Langley, B.C., has drawn criticism because students will be required to sign a so-called community covenant that forbids sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman.

In April 2014, the Nova Scotia law society amended its regulations to say the requirement represents unlawful discrimination against gays and lesbians.

As a result, graduates of the law school would not be allowed to article or practise law in Nova Scotia.

In January, a Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge decided the law society exceeded its jurisdiction and said the move also amounted to an infringement on religious freedom.