Southern Illinois University at Carbondale: Derecognition of Christian Law School Group

Southern Illinois University's College of Law became a subject of controversy and lawsuit after it derecognized the Christian Legal Society because CLS refused to allow anyone in its leadership who openly engaged in fornication or homosexuality, which SIU claimed violated its anti-discrimination policies. After a discouraging denial of its motion for preliminary injunction at trial, the Christian Legal Society appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, where a three judge panel reversed the trial court, ordering SIU to recognize the Christian Legal Society. The case, Christian Legal Society v. Walker, was not only a commendable victory for freedom of association, but also the groundwork for a case that is currently pending review before the Supreme Court of the United States, Truth v. Kane.