In Snyder v. Phelps, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church’s right to picket military funerals and communicate its belief that God hates the United States for its tolerance of homosexuality. Snyder v. Phelps 131 S.Ct. 1207 (2011). This ebook contains the full text of the decision including concurring and dissenting opinions.
Form the Court's opinion:
Whether the First Amendment prohibits holding Westboro liable for its speech in this case turns largely on whether that speech is of public or private concern, as determined by all the circumstances of the case. “[S]peech on public issues occupies the ‘ “highest rung of the hierarchy of First Amendment values” ’ and is entitled to special protection.” Although the boundaries of what constitutes speech on matters of public concern are not well defined, this Court has said that speech is of public concern when it can “be fairly considered as relating to any matter of political, social, or other concern to the community,” or when it “is a subject of general interest and of value and concern to the public,” A statement’s arguably “inappropriate or controversial character … is irrelevant to the question whether it deals with a matter of public concern.”
Snyder v. Phelps 131 S.Ct. 1207 (2011)
Form the Court's opinion:
Whether the First Amendment prohibits holding Westboro liable for its speech in this case turns largely on whether that speech is of public or private concern, as determined by all the circumstances of the case. “[S]peech on public issues occupies the ‘ “highest rung of the hierarchy of First Amendment values” ’ and is entitled to special protection.” Although the boundaries of what constitutes speech on matters of public concern are not well defined, this Court has said that speech is of public concern when it can “be fairly considered as relating to any matter of political, social, or other concern to the community,” or when it “is a subject of general interest and of value and concern to the public,” A statement’s arguably “inappropriate or controversial character … is irrelevant to the question whether it deals with a matter of public concern.”
Snyder v. Phelps 131 S.Ct. 1207 (2011)
