2017: Highwood Case at The Supreme Court

In 2017, the WSO presented oral arguments at the Supreme Court of Canada in the landmark case in Highwood Congregation v. Wall, a case questioning whether courts can judicially review membership decisions taken by private religious associations.

The facts of Highwood Congregation v. Wall revolve around Mr. Wall who was “dis-fellowed” (expelled) from his Jehovah’s Witness congregation due to allegations of drunkenness and misbehavior with his family. Mr. Wall brought an application for Judicial Review of the Congregation’s decision alleging that the expulsion affected his livelihood as a realtor since many of his clients were Jehovah’s Witnesses who no longer gave him business

WSO legal counsel Balpreet Singh said, “while this case is with respect to the expulsion of a Jehovah’s Witness member by the elders in his congregation, we believe that the result of this case could impact other religious communities as well, including Sikhs. Religious associations must be allowed to choose whom to worship with, without state interference.

This was the fourth time the WSO appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada and the third time in a case involving a non-Sikh appellant.