Why did the Supreme Court rule in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church in the Snyder v. Phelps case? Did it matter if the Marine’s father was a public figure?
What will be an ideal response?
The U.S. Supreme Court said that Westboro’s signs related to matters of public concern. Citing Hustler Magazine Inc. v. Falwell, the Court said the First Amendment may be a defense against an intentional infliction of emotional distress claim. The Court did not decide whether expression directed to a private individual or disorderly demonstrations would be protected against an IIED claim even if the content addressed matters of public concern. The Snyder Court said it did not consider whether the Marine’s father was a public or private figure. Had he been found a public figure, he would have had to prove actual malice, as the Court said in Falwell. But in Snyder the Court said the Westboro picketers were aiming their expression at the general public, not at Albert Snyder or his family. Because the expression was about matters of public concern and was directed toward a broad audience, the speech was protected regardless of what elements Snyder had to prove to win an IIED lawsuit.
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