Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/10pdf/09-751.pdf
Page Number: 1

(Slip Opinion) 

OCTOBER  TERM,  2010 

1 

Syllabus 

NOTE:  Where  it  is  feasible,  a  syllabus  (headnote)  will  be  released,  as  is
being  done  in  connection  with  this  case,  at  the  time  the  opinion  is  issued.
The  syllabus  constitutes  no  part  of  the  opinion  of  the  Court  but  has  been
prepared  by  the  Reporter  of  Decisions  for  the  convenience  of  the  reader. 
See United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 U. S. 321, 337. 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

Syllabus 

SNYDER v. PHELPS ET AL. 

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR 
THE FOURTH CIRCUIT 

No. 09–751.  Argued October 6, 2010—Decided March 2, 2011 

For the past 20 years, the congregation of the Westboro Baptist Church 
has  picketed  military  funerals  to  communicate  its  belief  that  God
hates  the  United  States  for  its  tolerance  of  homosexuality,  particu-
larly  in  America’s  military.    The  church’s  picketing  has  also  con-
demned  the  Catholic  Church  for  scandals  involving  its  clergy.    Fred 
Phelps, who founded the church, and six Westboro Baptist parishion-
ers (all relatives of Phelps) traveled to Maryland to picket the funeral 
of Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq in
the  line  of  duty.  The  picketing  took  place  on  public  land  approxi-
mately 1,000 feet from the church where the funeral was held, in ac-
cordance  with  guidance  from  local  law  enforcement  officers.    The 
picketers  peacefully  displayed  their  signs—stating,  e.g.,  “Thank  God 
for  Dead  Soldiers,”  “Fags  Doom  Nations,”  “America  is  Doomed,” 
“Priests  Rape  Boys,”  and  “You’re  Going  to  Hell”—for  about  30  min-
utes before the funeral began.  Matthew Snyder’s father (Snyder), pe-
titioner here, saw the tops of the picketers’ signs when driving to the 
funeral, but did not learn what was written on the signs until watch-
ing a news broadcast later that night.   

Snyder filed a diversity action against Phelps, his daughters—who 
participated in the picketing—and the church (collectively Westboro) 
alleging, as relevant here, state tort claims of intentional infliction of
emotional distress, intrusion upon seclusion, and civil conspiracy.  A 
jury held Westboro liable for millions of dollars in compensatory and
punitive damages.  Westboro challenged the verdict as grossly exces-
sive and sought judgment as a matter of law on the ground that the
First  Amendment  fully  protected  its  speech.    The  District  Court  re-
duced the punitive damages award, but left the verdict otherwise in-
tact.  The Fourth Circuit reversed, concluding that Westboro’s state-