When I heard of the ruling, recalled the opinion you shared on the case in Judicial Processes a few weeks ago, where you said either 7-2 or 8-1 in favor of Phelps. I did have something of a knee-jerk reaction when the case was decided; a part of me does want to see the Phelps family suffer. That all disappeared though when I realized what a dangerous precedent would be made if the case were decided against the Westboro klan.

I was in Ohio over Spring Break, having coffee in a local restaurant with a few farmers who shared that very knee-jerk reaction I had in regards to Snyder. When I explained the same constitutional rationale that I had come to terms with as a result of your analysis, they quickly understood. None of us like Phelps or his cooky brood, but if their rights to free speech are denied, then all of our rights can be denied.