Legal Question in Constitutional Law in Kansas

Court mandate conflicts with constitution

How is it that the court can mandate a person to attend A.A. which clearly is high in the opinion of religion and ''God''? I have been looking at their website and every other line is god this and quotes from the Bible. Im sure it is a good organization for some, but shouldn't a person have a say in this? This is basicaly mandating a person to accept their views, even though they try to claim differently. Is there any ground for a lawsuit? I am very angry about this and see this as a big waste of time, if you don't go with the god thing they preach how is it that you can recover? When people have a problem, ''God'' should not be plastered into their face as a mandate of the courts-I feel they say either you believe and go with the program or go to jail. This is not right Alcoholics Anonymous should be an individual choice not governed by the courts. Seperation of church and State? I am outraged at this and I am not even the one mandated to attend A.A. Is there anything I can do about this?


Asked on 6/03/05, 3:24 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Brian Leininger Leininger Law Office

Re: Court mandate conflicts with constitution

Very interesting. Yes, there are cases in which persons have objected to AA for the reasons you mentioned. Most of the time the court has ruled that one can not be ordered to attend AA and doing so violates the establishment clause of the US Constitution. If your friend wants to object I think he or she has a good chance of winning. Perhaps the court will find a secular alternative for your friend.

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Answered on 6/04/05, 8:26 pm


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