Supreme court to hear Westboro baptist case.

This may be old news but I just watched the BBC documentary "The most hated family in America" which is about Westboro Baptist Church. After watching the documentary I did a little more research on this cult and I found out that the Supreme Court was going to hear a case regarding one of their protests. Apparently Albert Snyder sued the church for emotional distress after they picketed his son's funeral. The first time it went to court the jury ordered the church to pay for emotional damages but the 4th district court reviewed the case and ruled in favor the "church." The supreme court will hear in the Fall. I was wondering what you all think of all this? I am sure personally all of us here and probably the rest of the country views these people as hateful bigots but I am torn on the legality of it. Do you think they are protected under the First Amendment or have the crossed the line? and what do you think the Supreme Court will say? I personally feel they have crossed the line and need to be made to pay for their hate mongering. Here is a link that has some more information on it http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/08/westboro-church-protests-_n_489923.html.

If there's one thing the right and the left have in common, it's that everyone hates the Phelps family and all that they stand for.

I've actually heard that Kevin Smith's next movie is going to be a psychological thriller with a Phelps-like character as the center of the film.

They preach hate and they need to be brought to justice, if not silenced.

Terrible people.

that the Westboro group (I refuse to refer to them as christians, baptist or otherwise) have crossed into hate speech. If my kid was dead, regardless the cause, and I showed up to a funeral with these douchebags flying their signs, I would be on trial for murder trying to argue that it was rightfully provoked. I try my best to love all people, including the ones like Cheney and Bush, but these people have crossed to a different realm.

I feel sorry for the ones whom the pastor/preacher/occult leader has corrupted.

demonstrations at a funeral is crossing the line. They can stand 100 yard (or some distance) away an say whatever they want, but not within close proximity to disrupt a service of any kind.

time, place and manner restrictions may be placed on speech so that speech is orderly. On the other hand, the family of the deceased has in no way placed itself into the public debate. On the gripping hand, protesting a war requires that you offend the honor of the dead's family. It will be an interesting decision.

I don't see why a court decision needs to limit speech. Could it not instead clarify a mourner's right to peaceful assembly, to privacy, to religious or ceremonial expression?

It would be simpler if what Westboro does was recognized as hate speech, but whether it's Westboro or a high school marching band the mourners have a reasonable and tradition expectation of a few moments of civility.

someplace similar?

...they would get along very well with the Talibans and A-Q. They have rather simillar opinions afterall.

I want them to lose. Big.

(The Westboro Baptist Church, that is.)

Speech can be both legally allowed by the government and yet
subject to legal damages for the speaker; consider slander.

I'd expect that the court will rule that Westboro's speech is indeed
allowable. Will they sustain damages? I don't know enough about
the case to say, but I'd *GUESS* that the current court will say "No",
just because they cast a jaundiced eye towards the "little people"
winning damages against any bigger organization, so this may just
another opportunity for them to reiterate that point.

Tesha

Bringing the Supreme Court in to rule on the exercising of rights based on opinion and political expediency would be a mistake. Once the precedence is set that people can be silenced because their message is offensive, the right wing will use it to shut down the progressive message.

Keep in mind the First Amendment places restrictions on the Government about controlling political speech, the constitution does nothing about a group of big, angry dudes walking into the ranks of the Westboro group and informing them that they have overstayed their welcome. Altercations at a funeral are a matter for the local constabulary, and infractions may or may not be enforced.

. . . . say anything they want wherever they want.

I can say "Fire" anytime I want. I can not say "Fire" loudly in a crowded theater.

I think the decision will go to venue.

...I'm going to have to say they're protected under the First Amendment. Who was it that said, "I may not agree with what you say, but I'll fight to the death for your right to say it." Before I get pulverized for this, I'm a vet currently on active duty, so these people are offending my fellow Airman, Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines and it sickens me. But, freedom of speech isn't necessarily free. People like Phelps and his group are the price we pay for that right.