An employee of a government-funded agency who refers clients exclusively to 12-step support groups is breaking the law and can be sued. It’s the Law If you work for a government-funded agency handling substance-abusing clients, you need to know about the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal’s ruling in the case of Inouye v. Kemna (Sept. 2007). If you refer your clients exclusively to 12-step groups, you could be sued. If you’re a prisoner or other client of the government and your judge, parole officer, or counselor refers you exclusively to 12-step groups, and this violates your beliefs, you have a right to sue. Ricky Inouye was imprisoned in Hawaii after conviction on drug charges, and served his time. As a Buddhist, he objected to participating in 12-step treatment programs because of their religious nature. He sued his parole officer for giving him the “choice” of AA/NA meetings or prison. The federal Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled in his favor. It held that 12-step programs are “religious” under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Compelling someone to attend 12-step programs violates the ban on establishment of a religion. This court ruling is not the first of its kind.