Alberta Court of Appeal finds oath to reigning monarch unconstitutional
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Bluesky
-
Share on X
- Copy Link
Alberta’s top court has ruled that requiring to-be lawyers in the province to take an oath of allegiance to the reigning monarch is unconstitutional.
Unlike some other provinces where the Oath is optional or non-existent, lawyers joining the provincial law society must swear an oath to bear true allegiance to the monarch, its heirs and successors.
The case hinged on whether Prabjot Wirring (PRAB’-jo WURR’-ing), a devout Sikh, was restricted from joining the Law Society of Alberta because pledging allegiance to another entity was against his faith.
The Alberta Court of Appeal found the Oath requirement forced him to choose between following his religious convictions or practicing law in Alberta — and was against his Charter right to religious freedom.
