Showing posts with label Supreme Court of the US. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Supreme Court of the US. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Explore Carroll: Supreme Court rules in favor of Westboro in protest at funeral of Westminster marine

Explore Carroll: Supreme Court rules in favor of Westboro in protest at funeral of Westminster marine

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling Wednesday against the father of Westminster native Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, whose 2006 funeral was picketed by members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church with signs proclaiming “God Hates You” and other such slogans... http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/5210/supreme-court-favor-westboro-protest-funeral-westminster-marine/


Jon Aerts, of Capital News Service, contributed to this story.  This story has been updated. Kevin E. Dayhoff and Steve Schuster contributed to this story.



Supreme Court March 2, 2011 decision Snyder v. Phelps et al


Argued October 6, 2010 – Decided March 2, 2011


The Supreme Court decision introduced the matter as follows:

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, particularly in America’s military.  The church’s picketing has also condemned the Catholic Church for scandals involving its clergy.  Fred Phelps, who founded the church, and six Westboro Baptist parishioners (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 approximately 1,000 feet from the church where the funeral was held, in accordance 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 minutes before the funeral began.  Matthew Snyder’s father (Snyder), petitioner here, saw the tops of the picketers’ signs when driving to the funeral, but did not learn what was written on the signs until watching a news broadcast later that night… http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-751.pdf

For more on this story go to: Supreme Court rules in favor of Westboro in protest at funeral of Westminster marine Court says protest at Snyder's funeral was protected free speech Posted 3/02/11 by Carroll Eagle, Eldersburg Eagle, Westminster Eagle  http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/5210/supreme-court-favor-westboro-protest-funeral-westminster-marine/


Free speech, Westboro Baptist Church, Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, Explore Carroll, Westminster, Maryland, Carroll County, Dayhoff, Supreme Court

20110302 SCOTUS Snyder v Phelps 09-751
                                                                                                  

The transcript of the October 6, 2010 oral arguments before the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Albert Snyder v. Pred W. Phelps, Sr., et. al., here: http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/09-751.pdf  Or you may listen to the oral arguments here: http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_audio_detail.aspx?argument=09-751


The Supreme Court transcript of the Oct. 6, 2010 oral arguments Snyder v. Phelps                                                                                                   

Snyder v. Phelps Supreme Court syllabus
Related: http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/more.php?f=news&y=0&p=1&s=Westboro&t=


Matthew Snyder, of Finksburg, Maryland, died from a non combat-related vehicle accident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, California. Died on March 3, 2006. Matthew was 20 years old.


Matthew graduated from Westminster High School in 2003.
After graduation, he enlisted in the Marines on October 14, 2003, and was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. In August of 2004, Matthew was assigned to Combat Logistics Batallion-7, Twentynine Palms, Calif. as a generator mechanic. [http://matthewsnyder.org/]




    Supreme Court rules in favor of Westboro in protest at funeral of Westminster marine
    Published March 2, 2011 by Carroll Eagle, Eldersburg Eagle, Westminster Eagle
    ... by members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church with signs proclaiming “ ... slogans.The court ruled that the Westboro protest, though hurtful, is protected by ... redress over the presence of seven WestboroBaptist Church demonstrators wielding signs outside ... ...
    Letters: Remembering Matthew Snyder as a person, not a lawsuit
    Published November 7, 2010 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle, Eldersburg Eagle
    ... a son of Carroll," Oct. 10.) For many reasons, I have refrained from speaking publicly about the lawsuit involving the Westboro Baptist Church -- of which I am not a part. However, I do want to express my appreciation for the editorial pointing out ... ...
    Supreme Court grapples with privacy debate over protest at Matthew Snyder's funeral
    Published October 6, 2010 by Carroll Eagle, Eldersburg Eagle, Westminster Eagle
    ... redress over the presence of seven Westboro Baptist Church demonstrators wielding "God ... private funeral deserved protection from Westboro's message. Margie Phelps, the ... spoke before the cameras, callingWestboro's picketing "utterly intolerable in ... ...
    Case of Westminster marine's funeral protest goes to Supreme Court on Oct. 6
    Published October 3, 2010 by Carroll Eagle, Eldersburg Eagle, Westminster Eagle
    ... Seven members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church also came to ... in legal fees incurred by theWestboro Church. The order drew national ... .”Founded in 1955, the Westboro Baptist Church is led by ... the eve of the Snyder-Westboro case at the Supreme Court, ... ...
    EDITORIAL: Amidst the legal controversy, let's not forget Matthew Snyder as a son of Carroll
    Published October 2, 2010 by Carroll Eagle, Eldersburg Eagle, Westminster Eagle
    The case involving the protest by Westboro Baptist Church members at the March 2006 ... even before the protracted court case regarding Westboro began, The Eagle wrote in an ... group was from the Kansas-basedWestboro Baptist Church, which routinely pickets the ... ...
    Strangers, celebrities offer to pay Marine family's court-ordered expenses
    Published April 4, 2010 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
    ... funeral was picketed by members of the Westboro Baptist Church. Lance Corp. Snyder was killed ... in Al Qaim, Iraq. Members of the Westboro church, based in Topeka, Kan., protested ... ... "It is obvious that (Westboro followers) were disturbing the peace by ... ...
    Strangers, celebrities help pay expenses for family of fallen Marine
    Published March 31, 2010 by Carroll Eagle, Eldersburg Eagle, Westminster Eagle
    ... funeral was picketed by members of the Westboro Baptist Church.Lance Corp. Snyder was killed ... in Al Qaim, Iraq. Members of the Westboro church, based in Topeka, Kansas, protested at ... free, she said.Phelps and the Westboro Church have picketed a number of ... ...
    Snyder funeral protest case will go to Supreme Court
    Published March 14, 2010 by Westminster Eagle, Carroll Eagle
    ... Snyder sued Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., who ... Snyder funeral is not the only time Westboro has interacted with Carroll County. In ... accident in Finksburg. At the time,Westboro Baptist Church claimed that tragedy had ... ...



Apr 01, 2010


Protesters led by Fred Phelps, of the Topeka, Kansas Westboro Baptist Church protested at Lance Cpl. Snyder's funeral at his funeral service which was held in his home parish of St. John Catholic Church in Westminster on March 10, 2006. ...


http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2011/03/explore-carroll-supreme-court-rules-in.html

Thursday, April 1, 2010

O'Reilly steps forward to pay fallen Marine family’s court-ordered expenses


Cable news host steps forward to pay fallen Marine family’s court-ordered expenses

The O'Reilly Factor host Bill O’Reilly stepped forward and said, “That is an outrage… I will pay Mr. Snyder’s obligation.”

March 31 2010

By Kevin Dayhoff By Kevin Dayhoff http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/03/oreilly-steps-forward-to-pay-fallen.html

Fox News cable news host Bill O'Reilly has said that he will pay the $16,500 legal bill for the father of fallen U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder, of Westminster who was killed instantly March 3, 2006 while on assignment in Al Qaim, Iraq.

Protesters led by Fred Phelps, of the Topeka, Kansas Westboro Baptist Church protested at Lance Cpl. Snyder’s funeral at his funeral service which was held in his home parish of St. John Catholic Church in Westminster on March 10, 2006.

According to news reports, Phelps and the church have picketed a number of military funerals around the country claiming that the deaths of U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq are punishment for the nation’s tolerance of homosexuality.

In response to the protests, Lance Cpl. Snyder’s father, Albert Snyder, of York, Pa., sued Phelps, his daughters Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis, and the church and won an $11 million damage award for emotional distress and invasion of privacy in October 2007.

The judge subsequently reduced the amount to $5 million. However, the verdict was thrown out on appeal in the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Maryland, which last Friday ordered Snyder to pay the costs of Phelps’ appeal.

Meanwhile the Fourth Circuit’s decision has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court which agreed earlier in the month to consider whether or not the protesters’ messages, which include phrases such as ‘Thank God for dead soldiers,’ are protected by the “time, place and manner” precedent under the First Amendment which addresses the competing privacy and religious rights of the mourners.

Sean Summers and Craig Trebilcock, the York, Pennsylvania attorneys representing Snyder are doing the work for free; however the filing requirements for an appeal the U.S. Supreme Court can be expensive. A situation only exacerbated the decision last Friday that Snyder pay the court expenses involved in the Fourth Circuit’s decision, which has subsequently made national news.

Various legal experts have said in news reports that the Fourth Circuit had the discretion to hold off on making a ruling until the Supreme Court made its decision.

Meanwhile, a web site, MatthewSnyder.org, has been created by the law firm of Barley Snyder, LLC, who is representing the Snyder family for folks who would like to donate money for the Snyder family's continuing legal expenses.

In a phone interview this afternoon with this reporter, a representative of the firm said that all the money collected will go towards the expenses that will be incurred for preparing the case for the U.S. Supreme Court, “which can be pretty hefty…

“Not the attorney fees, because we are representing the family for free,” she added.

O’Reilly steps forward.

Yesterday on “The O'Reilly Factor,” O’Reilly stepped forward and said, “That is an outrage… I will pay Mr. Snyder’s obligation. I am not going to let this injustice stand…

“It is obvious that they were disturbing the peace by disrupting the funeral. They should have been arrested, but our system is 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,” opined O’Reilly on the broadcast.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Snyder’s appeal during its October term and with a verdict will be announced in the middle of next year.

As for media reports that O’Reilly has volunteered to pay the appellate expenses ordered by the Fourth Circuit, the representative from Barley Snyder, LLC said that the phone has ringing off the hook as a result of those reports…

She added that she had also heard that (O’Reilly has said he will contribute) but cannot confirm at this point that he has indeed written a check, “Although I am sure he is good to his word.”

####

20100331 sdosmked Cable news host to pay to Snyder family court exps

Labels: Free Speech, Free Speech protesters, Iraq War, Iraq War Carroll Co Reaction, Iraq War CCo Cpl Snyder KIA 2Mar06, Journalists O'Reilly-Bill, Supreme Court of the US

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com


*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Saturday, October 4, 2008

How much for the Heller case lawyers?

How much should the Heller lawyers be paid for winning the case against the DC gun law?

A controversy is growing over the proper payment of the three lawyers who handled the Heller case that result in the DC gun law being struck down as unconstitutional.
The trio make their case today in the Examiner.

How much for the Heller case lawyers?

Alan Gura, Robert A. Levy, and Clark Neily, Guest columnists 10/3/08

Prevailing parties in civil rights cases are entitled to a "reasonable" attorney's fee. We are the attorneys who represented Dick Heller in the landmark Supreme Court case striking down Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban on Second Amendment grounds, and we have asked the court to award us $3.5 million for six years of litigation.

The Washington Post has characterized that request as "adding insult to injury" and a "windfall" to which we are not entitled. The Post's editorial is long on rhetoric but short on analysis. In fact, the $3.5 million request is perfectly reasonable under existing court precedent.

The purpose of the fee-shifting provision is to ensure "vigorous enforcement" of civil rights laws, especially when monetary damages are not available and the claimants may not be able to afford competent legal counsel. To attain that goal, prevailing lawyers should receive a market rate for their efforts.

[…]

With respect to our recorded hours, the total was under 3,100 for three lawyers over six years. No reasonable person could consider those hours excessive, particularly considering that we were up against more than a dozen lawyers – some of them eminent Supreme Court practitioners – from the D.C. Attorney General's office and three of the nation's largest and most elite law firms.

[...]

More: How much for the Heller case lawyers?

20081003 How much for the Heller case lawyers