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New Developments In Westboro Baptist Church Litigation

By Howard M. Friedman

Today's Topeka (KS) Capital-Journal reports on two developments relating to Topeka's anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church and its members who have gained notoriety for picketing funerals of Iraq war veterans. (Background.) On Monday the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to stay collection of the $5 million Maryland federal district court damage award against church leaders growing out of their picketing of the funeral of Marine Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder. (See prior posting.) Meanwhile, on Tuesday the Kansas Court of Appeals heard arguments on whether the pickup truck that Westboro uses to carry its picket signs is exempt from personal property tax. At issue is whether the messages on the signs are religious or political. The Board of Tax Appeals ruled the truck was subject to taxation, finding that there was at least some political content in the signs.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 21, 2008 (boomark / email).