Judge dismisses challenge to Christian law school after B.C. reverses approval

VANCOUVER – A B.C. Supreme Court judge has dismissed legal action over the plan for a controversial law school at a Christian university, saying the man’s challenge is “moot.”

Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson ruled that because the minister of advanced education reversed a decision to allow the law faculty, the petition by future law school student Trevor Loke is dismissed.

Amrik Virk, who was minister at the time, granted conditional consent in 2013 for the law school to be established at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C.

Loke filed his petition in April 2014, seeking a declaration that the province’s decision was unconstitutional and violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Trinity Western students are required to sign a controversial covenant that promises they will abstain from sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman.

The proposed law school is also being challenged in other Canadian provinces by law societies who want to prevent accrediting the school’s graduates because of the marriage policy.