The Alberta government has requested the Supreme Court of Canada to review the constitutionality of a regulation mandating new lawyers to pledge an oath of allegiance to the monarch. The appeal was filed on February 13 following a prior ruling by Alberta’s Court of Appeal in December, as per lawyer Avnish Nanda.
The Court of Appeal decision favored Prabjot Singh Wirring, an Edmonton lawyer and devout Amritdhari Sikh, who contended that his religious pledge already affirmed his loyalty to his beliefs. He argued that taking an oath to a monarch would breach this sacred commitment and his rights.
Wirring expressed disappointment over the government’s use of public resources to seemingly impede racialized minorities from practicing law in Alberta. The Alberta government refrained from commenting on the legal matters of the case while it is under court review, according to Heather Jenkins, press secretary to Justice Minister Mickey Amery.
Alberta’s legislation mandates lawyers to swear an oath of allegiance to the reigning monarch, their heirs, and successors. The plea for a Supreme Court hearing marks the latest development in a protracted legal dispute that commenced in June 2022 when Wirring, a law graduate at the time, brought a lawsuit to the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta.
Nanda, Wirring’s legal representative, highlighted the dilemma faced by Wirring, emphasizing that the oath posed a choice between being a lawyer or an Amritdhari Sikh. The case argued that the oath infringed on Wirring’s rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The trial court initially upheld the lawfulness of the oath in October 2023, but the Alberta Court of Appeal reversed this decision in December 2025, citing a violation of religious freedom.
Wirring, who obtained membership in the Saskatchewan bar without an oath requirement, transferred his membership to the Alberta bar in December. Despite the Supreme Court application, Wirring remains resolute in his stance.
In emphasizing the clash between professional regulations and personal faith, Nanda underscored how such barriers hinder qualified religious lawyers. The case’s potential nationwide impact could influence legal regulations for lawyers, judges, and public officials in Canada.
Wirring stressed the significance of the case in ensuring that individuals do not have to compromise their career or religious beliefs. He called for a reflection on priorities to foster an inclusive and diverse legal profession.
The government is currently conducting an internal review of oaths mandated by provincial legislation for office-holders, as mentioned by Jenkins.