Based on the law and the court decision, why did the Supreme Court rule that Westboro Baptist Church’s speech was protected
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- Based on the law and the court decision, why did the Supreme Court rule that Westboro Baptist Church’s speech was protected? Explain using thorough legal analysis with at least five citations as explained above.
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Possible response to this essay:
Snyder v. Phelps (2011)
The First Amendment protects people's right to speech, which allows them to freely express their issues by picketing, among other means. Based on the analysis of the case involving Snyder and Phelps (2011), the Supreme Court ruled that Westboro Baptist Church’s speech was protected since their protests were of broad issues that are of interest to the society rather than matters of “personal or private concern” which is protected under The First Amendment (Business Roundtable, 2019). This Amendment gives the church and other concerned parties the right to hold peaceful demonstrations, such as anti-gay protests outside funeral homes and military bases, among other public places. Facts from the case indicate that the church held its protests in a public place. That action meant that congregants did not violate personal privacy, and their protests were of public interests and not private concerns, which is not a violation of the law under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment (Business Roundtable, 2019). Arguably, the Supreme Court primarily ruled that Westboro Baptist Church’s speech was protected because the church's leadership led protests against public interests rather than personal issues, which is a broad issue of interest to the community at large that is protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution.
The founders of the Constitution understood the significance of freedom of speech, which is why they drafted and passed the First Amendment in the U.S. Constitution, which gives people the right to picket and express public concerns freely (Karla, 2017). During the ruling of the case between Snyder and Phelps, the Supreme Court held that the church's actions were motivated by matters of public concern rather than matters of private significance, which is not a violation of the law. The Supreme Court argued that speech deals with issues affecting or concerned with public interest, such as moral, political, or social concerns. Therefore, when a speech is of societal concern, then it is protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution. During the ruling, the court analyzed the context and content of the speech and noted that the church rightfully exercised its constitutional rights by protesting in front of Snyder's funeral home (Frontline. t.s, 12-15th minutes). The court further noted that the leadership of the church had ensured that their followers (protesters) held the demonstrations in public land which was near the funeral home, which is protected by the right of speech as expressed in the First Amendment, which explains why it ruled in favor of the church (Frontline. t.s, 34th minute).
In conclusion, the main reason why the Supreme Court ruled that Westboro Baptist Church’s speech was protected based on the law and the court's decision is that the right to free speech is protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The court held that the right to freedom of speech protects the church's leader (Phelps) and his church members from expressing their opinions freely in public places.
References
Business Roundtable (BR). (Aug 19, 2019). Business Roundtable Redefines the Purpose of a Corporation to Promote ‘An Economy That Serves All Americans’. Retrieved February 23rd, 2024 from: https://www.businessroundtable.org/business-roundtable-redefines-the-purpose-of-a-corporation-to-promote-an-economy-that-serves-all-americans
Frontline. (2014), The Madoff Affair. Retrieved February 23rd, 2024 from:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/madoff
Karla K. Gower. (2017). Legal and Ethical Considerations for Public Relations: Third Edition. Waveland Press.