Snyder v. Phelps Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Snyder v. Phelps - Assignment Example Therefore, the congregation picketed in military funerals to demonstrate their beliefs. On this occasion, Phelps led his flock to picket at Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder’s funeral. He died while in battle in Iraq in 2006. Through the event, protesters displayed placards with thematic messages like, acknowledging God for 9/11 event, thanking God for the death of the soldier and asking the public not to pray for America. Furthermore, church members recounted Bible verses and resonated hymns. Snyder later sued Phelps and the church on the basis that their actions caused him severe emotional distress. However, Phelps defended and sought protection of the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution. Bhakhama (2012) affirms that the case took an interesting twist as jury in Maryland settled the claims and awarded Snyder a reasonable compensation. However, the Supreme Court reversed the decision in favor of the church because the protestors addressed Americans fate, homosexuality, and moral conduct. In justification of the decision, the Supreme Court emphasized that First Amendment offered exceptional shield for speech on civic issues. Hence, the court maintained that Westboro Baptist Church members who picketed adjacent to the funeral site expressed legal acts. Thus, the demonstrators’ engaged in accordance with provisions of state-law. On the contrary, the church never committed purposeful cause of emotional misery, meddling, and civil intrigue. Fighting words doctrine comprised of speeches with a possibility to make a recipient commit an act of violence. However, First Amendment never prohibits expression of similar speeches especially when addressing common concerns, yet opposes subset of abusive words and violence. Thus, this is a personal analysis and thoughts about application of the doctrine in relation Chaplinsky versus New Hampshire. Generally, the Supreme Court’s verdict presented a major dilemma. Critics still argue