A federal district judge ruled that two 2006 laws regulating protests near funerals violated the First Amendment. -db
Kansas City Star
Aug. 16, 2010
By Mark Morris
Missouri’s laws restricting protests near funerals are unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Monday.
The ruling from Chief U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan found that two 2006 laws that sought to regulate such protests violated First Amendment free-speech rights.
Shirley Phelps-Roper, daughter of Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps, filed the federal lawsuit. Church members often have picketed service members’ funerals, alleging that God is punishing America for tolerating homosexuality, abortion, divorce and other issues.
The laws never have been strictly enforced in Missouri.
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