Decided
Snyder v. Phelps
Holding
The First Amendment protects those who stage a peaceful protest on a matter of public concern near the funeral of a military service member from tort liability.
Plain English Holding
The First Amendment protects from tort liability those who stage a peaceful protest on a matter of public concern near the funeral of a military service member.
Judgment
4th Circuit affirmed , 8-1, in an opinion by John Roberts on Mar 2, 2011.
Merits Briefs
- Brief for Petitioner Albert Snyder
- Brief for Respondent Fred W. Phelps, Sr., Shirley L. Phelps-Roper, Rebekah A. Phelps-Davis, and Westboro Baptist Church, Inc.
- Reply Brief for Petitioner Albert Snyder
Amicus Briefs
- Brief for Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell and 40 Other Members of the U.S. Senate in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for the American Legion in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for the John Marshall Law School Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for State of Kansas and 47 Other States and the District of Columbia in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, The Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project, the National Coalition Against Censorship, and the Pennsylvania Center for the First Amendment in Support of Respondent
- Brief for Scholars of First Amendment Law in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and Twenty-one News Media Organizations in Support of Respondent
- Brief for Liberty Counsel in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the American Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland in Support of Respondent
- Brief for The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education and Law Professors Ash Bhagwat, David Post, Martin Redish, Nadine Strossen, and Eugene Volokh in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence in Support of Neither Party Suggesting Reversal
- Brief for the American Center for Law and Justice in Support of Neither Party
- Brief for the Anti-Defamation League in Support of Neither Party
- Brief of the Rutherford Institute in Support of Respondents
Certiorari-Stage Documents
- Opinion Below (4th Circuit)
- Petition for Certiorari (unavailable)
- Brief in Opposition (unavailable)
Related Coverage
Dec 23, 2009Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 28, 2010)
Jan 20, 2010Brief of respondents Fred W. Phelps, Sr., et al. in opposition filed.
Feb 3, 2010DISTRIBUTED for Conference of February 19, 2010.
Feb 16, 2010DISTRIBUTED for Conference of February 26, 2010.
Mar 1, 2010DISTRIBUTED for Conference of March 5, 2010.
Mar 8, 2010Petition GRANTED.
Mar 22, 2010The time within which to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including May 24, 2010.
May 24, 2010Brief of petitioner Albert Snyder filed.
May 24, 2010Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs received)
May 24, 2010Supplemental joint appendix filed.
May 27, 2010Brief amicus curiae of Anti-Defamation League in support of neither party filed.
May 28, 2010Brief amici curiae of Senators Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, and 40 Other Members of the U.S. Senate filed.
Jun 1, 2010Brief amicus curiae of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence in support of neither party filed.
Jun 1, 2010Brief amicus curiae of American Center for Law and Justice in support of neither party filed.
Jun 1, 2010Brief amici curiae of Kansas, et al. filed.
Jun 1, 2010Brief amicus curiae of The American Legion filed.
Jun 1, 2010Brief amicus curiae of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. filed.
Jun 1, 2010Brief amici curiae of The John Marshall Law School Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic, et al. filed.
Jun 15, 2010The time within which to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including July 7, 2010.
Jul 7, 2010Brief of respondents Fred W. Phelps, Sr., et al. filed.
Jul 13, 2010Brief amici curiae of Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, et al. filed.
Jul 14, 2010Brief amicus curiae of Liberty Counsel filed.
Jul 14, 2010Brief amicus curiae of Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, et al. filed.
Jul 14, 2010Brief amici curiae of American Civil Liberties Union, et al.
Jul 14, 2010Brief amici curiae of Scholars of First Amendment Law filed.
Jul 14, 2010Brief amici curiae of Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, et al. filed.
Jul 14, 2010Brief amicus curiae of Rutherford Institute filed. (Distributed)
Jul 20, 2010CIRCULATED.
Jul 20, 2010SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Wednesday, October 6, 2010.
Jul 26, 2010Record received from U.S.C.A. for 4th Circuit. (1 box)
Aug 6, 2010Reply of petitioner Albert Snyder filed. (Distributed)
Sep 2, 2010Record received fro U.S.D.C. for District of Maryland (Baltimore) (2 boxes)
Oct 6, 2010Argued. For Petitioner: Sean E. Summers, York, Penn. For respondents: Margie J. Phelps, Topeka, Kan.
Mar 2, 2011Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Breyer, J., filed a concurring opinion. Alito, J., filed a dissenting opinion.
Apr 4, 2011JUDGMENT ISSUED.
May 9, 2011Record returned to U.S.C.A. for 4th Circuit.
May 9, 2011Record returned to U.S.D.C. for the District of Maryland.
Recommended Citation: Snyder v. Phelps, SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/snyder-v-phelps/