Father Of Dead Marine Ordered To Pay Legal Fees Of Westboro Baptist Church Protesters

Newsmax reports that Bill O'Reilly will pick up the tab for the legal fees, calling the situation an outrage:

That is an outrage," he said. "I will pay Mr. Snyder's obligation. I am not going to let this injustice stand."

O'Reilly added, "It's obvious they were disturbing the peace by disrupting the funeral. They should have been arrested, but our system is so screwed up, so screwed up, that loons are allowed to run wild. Snyder is fighting the good fight, and he is taking his case to the Supreme Court as he should. We are behind him 100 percent."

UPDATE: The Snyder family is seeking donations to help them continue their suit.

BALTIMORE (AP) — The father of a Marine killed in Iraq and whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters was ordered to pay the protesters' appeal costs, his lawyers said Monday.

On Friday, Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered Snyder to pay $16,510 to Fred Phelps. Phelps is the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, which conducted protests at Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder's funeral in 2006.

The two-page decision supplied by attorneys for Albert Snyder of York, Pa., offered no details on how the court came to its decision.

Attorneys also said Snyder is struggling to come up with fees associated with filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court.

The decision adds "insult to injury," said Sean Summers, one of Snyder's lawyers.

The high court agreed to consider whether the protesters' message is protected by the First Amendment or limited by the competing privacy and religious rights of the mourners.

Comments

[rascalish]

07:59 PM on 04/04/2010

Heres some of the video.

This is one of 6 posted on YouTube via the wonderful Carisa Hendrix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW2JgPMQdVc

[rascalish]

07:55 PM on 04/04/2010

Had to post this. Its informative and very sad. I wish I had a link to the interview.

The plus side is that it informs us about the Phelps clan.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/cabbie+speaks+against+hating+preacher/2757956/story.html#ixzz0k2xRtmEh

[IncredulousInNorthDakota]

07:41 PM on 04/02/2010

Such behavior is so evil that I have trouble articulating a suitable response.
While I heartily believe in Free Speech, I also believe that such actions should not go unpunished.
Why is this not considered a hate crime?

[seanifer7]

09:56 PM on 05/23/2010

while i agree with you, its not considered a hate crime because they committed no crime. they are protected under the constitution.... but you can get them on DTP (disturbing the peace) if they go to private residences.

[graciesgra]

02:17 AM on 04/01/2010

I didn't think I could agree with Bill O on anything, but clearly I do. What nonsense that they would make the father pay the fees of those idiots. How can this happen? Thank you, Bill.

[lisalovesamelie]

04:05 PM on 04/01/2010

Good grief. Gracie, you took the words from my mouth. I never thought I would agree on anything with Bill O or admire anything about him, but in this case he is right. So ridiculous. God hates no one. NO ONE. That coward and his church disgrace and karma is a witch.

[JustMeLe]

12:46 AM on 04/01/2010

Why were they in court?

[seanifer7]

09:57 PM on 05/23/2010

because they sued a man whos son was killed in IRAQ.

[Karen Walton]

10:28 PM on 03/31/2010

Thank you, Bill O'Rielly!

[DarkWitch]

08:35 PM on 03/31/2010

Wow. I totally agree with Bill O'Rielly. He is doing a really stand-up thing. I am impressed. I guess it just goes to show we as Americans have more in common than we think sometimes.

Imho, in these cases of the Westboro Baptist Church protesting funerals, the families' right to practice their religion (i.e. bury their dead in peace) trumphs Phelp's right to free speech. I truly hope the courts eventually interpret the Constitution that way and put an end to Phelp's end run around other people's rights.

[Artemis34]

02:58 PM on 03/31/2010

As Barnie Frank said "It is a tribute to the first amendment that this kind of vile, contemptible nonsense is so freely propagated."

The family should not have to pay anything to Phelps however and on this point, I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I agree with Bill O.

Phelps should have to pay to defend his own hate speech.

[BlueKansas]

12:50 PM on 03/31/2010

Thefather has said all along he has no intention of paying, so I would hold off looking to contribute. He wants this to go to a higher court, and as long as there are legal actions pending, he can hold off payment. Even so, I heard on our local news today that Bill O'Reilly (yeah THAT Bill O'Reilly) has offered to cut a $16,000 to the father. I guess no one can be ALL bad...except maybe the Phelps family.

[RuffNReddy]

11:55 AM on 03/31/2010

Absolutely inappropriate place and time for a protest of that nature.
It's a common decency issue. If the roles were reversed we all know where that would go.

You can hide behind His shroud all you want but, in the end your soul will be revealed.
True spiritualists don't waste time on frivolous sh*t like this. They're out dishing food at the
local soup kitchen, rocking premature babies in the hospital, helping elderly neighbors with chores,
collecting donations for relief programs, caring for the terminally ill.... washing the feet of the lepers.
They open their arms to everyone in the hopes that everyone will feel less pain.

This is an abomination and an insult.
I'm not a religious person by any means but, can see only the darkness, the dirty cloud that hangs over these types of nay sayers. Hate breeds hate and the cycle continues.

My condolences to the family.

[Oginikwe]

01:43 AM on 03/31/2010

This is reprehensible and flies in the face of common decency. Their website has "God Hates You" all over it, and they're happy about dead soldiers. If that don't beat all.

Someone needs to put "Christ" back into "Christian."

[Artemis34]

02:51 PM on 03/31/2010

Yes, very un-Christian attitude!

[USMCSgt6492]

11:06 PM on 03/30/2010

Bill O'Reilly is paying for Mr. Snyder's court costs. Just heard him say it on The Factor tonight.

[DocStrangelove]

06:49 PM on 03/30/2010

Joe..

I'll try once again..

The "fire in a crowded theater" was a Brandies quote stemming from the Debs case.. who was arrested for SEDITION because he would speak publicly admonishing young men to RESIST the DRAFT during WW1.

I feel the decision was WRONG.. & the analogy created a false dichotomy.

That said, the Westboro SKUMBAGS did NOT "yell fire".. nor did they "incite" anyone.

They were on PUBLIC PROPERTY more than a BLOCK away from the funeral home .. they had a PERMIT to demonstrate... they did NOT use anyone's NAMES as their putrid placards were GENERAL expressions of their OPINIONS regarding what GOD "thinks"...

NOBODY was admonished to 'storm the funeral'.. nobody was 'slandered'..

If they set foot in the Cemetery.. THEN they should be arrested.

They DIDN'T.

As far as 'P0RN' is concerned, if it is created with all ADULTS consented.. or if it is WRITTEN as FICTION.. then , yes..... I feel it is PROTECTED.

If someone cajoles a KID to commit SU!C!DE.. it is NOT... if someone cajoles a "generation' to commit "SU!C!DE" & someone does.. it is PROTECTED.

A hypothetical...

What if, as an artist, I decided to erect a BILLBOARD-SIZED poster of Serrano's famous photo of a crucfix immersed in a glass of UR!NE.. & I did it RIGHT ACROSS the STREET from St. Patricks Cathedral.. on EASTER SUNDAY... & my STATED intent, as an artist, was to OFFEND as many people as I could.

Should I be thrown into PRISON for

[DocStrangelove]

06:50 PM on 03/30/2010

BTW.. I donated $100.00... the family should NOT have been told to pay the fees.
.

[casskiru]

06:55 PM on 03/30/2010

very admirable of you. maybe we don't quite disagree as much as it seems.
with complicated issues sometimes the internet really just doesn't cut it.
i don't want to hijack this thread with our little "tiff" etc, but let's try to get along
a little bitter when we encounter each other here yeah? not blaming you solely btw.

[casskiru]

06:57 PM on 03/30/2010

hah! freudian slip- "bitter" should be "better." :)

[somsoc]

07:12 PM on 03/30/2010

Doc, your analysis of the Bill of Rights is weak at best, but I do agree with you on the Brandeis decision.

However, I suggest you read the initial factual basis for the suit filed by Mr. Snyder. He filed primarily on the basis of defamation and libel for posting that Phelps and crew put on several of their web sites accusing Mr. Snyder of adultery, of raising his son to worship the devil, and other despicable untrue matters. These actions are not protected by the First Amendment.

[somsoc]

06:21 PM on 03/30/2010

Doc spews a great deal, but his knowledge of the Bill of Rights and of the interpretations of the 1st Amendment specifically are simply specious at best. Inflammatory speech and speech intended, as that which I have witnessed first hand from the Phelps clan, is intended to as provoking words and gestures, i.e. fighting words, words intended in the circumstances to incite a violent reaction, then such speech is not protected.

[DocStrangelove]

06:30 PM on 03/30/2010

The SUPREME COURT disagrees with you.. &, AGAIN, as y initial response was raptured... I will say it AGAIN.

The Bill of Rights holds a SPECIAL distinction.. the first 10 Amendments can NOT be altered.. nor can they be REPEALED... nor can any newly ratified Amendment NULLIFY any of the them.

I ALSO pointed out that your infantile "Dr. Dogma" crack only illustrated the fact that METAPHORICAL speech should only be directed towards those whose UNDERSTANDING of such things as NUANCE can be relied upon.. & it was clearly a mistake on MY part expecting it to pass muster with YOU.

Now.. if you want to have an INTELLIGENT, ADULT debate on the subject.. fine.

If you want to CONTINUE with the "spewing" & the "Dr. Dogma" CRAP.. then I have better things to do.
.

[DocStrangelove]

06:53 PM on 03/30/2010

Sorry.. the "Dr.Dogma" thing was posted by another.. you're cool.. the other poster is NOT.
.

[casskiru]

06:35 PM on 03/30/2010

do you know what he's talking about as far his "initial response" being "raptured?"

if so, do let me know. i'm done with him.

[casskiru]

06:38 PM on 03/30/2010

ah..... i think it was me who called you dr. dogma. looks like you misposted here.
unless someone else called you dr. dogma, which wouldn't really surprise me.
we really don't like each other very much do we?

oh well. that's too bad.

[DocStrangelove]

06:59 PM on 03/30/2010

BTW...

"raptured" is a term we use here when we post something & it then DISAPPEARS..

[somsoc]

06:02 PM on 03/30/2010

Fred Phelps, the evangeleach hero and Pat Roberson's son, is he not?