Legal Question in Constitutional Law in Maryland

Forced to attend AA

Dear Sir/Madame,

After attending a funeral I received a dui.

As part of my probation I must attend a county health department program. I am also being forced to attend three AA meetings a week. These meetings start with prayer and end with hand holding and the lords prayer. Throughout the meetings ''god'' and ''a higher power'' are referred to. I find these meeting unbelievably offensive. I am required to seek out a ''sponsor'' and to attend ''home meetings''

The weekly ''worksheet'' I received has questions like who is my sponsor, How many AA meetings I attended, what step I am working on, how many AA mettings I will attend next week, etc.

I was told tonight (because I refuse to refer to my self as an alcoholic) that I must be suffering from ''DUI-isium''

It is a 50 mile round to attend, three times a week.

Can the local health dept. force me to attend?

Sincerely

Kevin


Asked on 9/20/07, 11:07 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Paula McGill Attorney at Law

Re: Forced to attend AA

Your question is very timely. This month, the 9th Circuit (Federal Appeals Court) ruled that the condition of requiring an atheist to attend AA meetings was in violation of his 1st Amendment rights.

Maryland is in the 4th Circuit, which covers Maryland, Virginia, SC, and NC. Clearly, more conservative than the 9th Circuit, which includes California and Hawaii.

Nevertheless, you should first try the ACLU in Maryland to see if they want to use yours as a test case for the 4th Circuit. If they don't return your call, contact me, I am also a civil rights attorney.

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Answered on 9/21/07, 4:05 pm


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