Kansas Supreme Court rules down funeral picketing law
10:38 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The state's picketing legislation has a fatal flaw, so says the Kansas Supreme Court.
Today, the state's highest court released its ruling on the legislation that is aimed at keeping protesters, like Rev. Fred Phelps and followers of his Westboro Baptist Church, farther away from funerals. The Topeka-based group is known for protesting soldiers' funerals across the country.
The so-called trigger provision of the 2007 bill prevented the law from being enforced until was upheld by a state or federal court.
The court unanimously said the so-called trigger provision of the 2007 law invalidated the entire statute.
However, the court left in place a section allowing family members to sue if they feel protesters defamed the dead.
The court said it was releasing the opinion now rather than the normal hand-down day of May 28 to give legislators time to address the issue.
Funeral picketing legislation
- Kansa Supreme Court rules down funeral picketing law (March 11, 2008)
- State's high court hears arguments on funeral picketing law (Dec. 6, 2007)
- Funeral protest bill going to the governor (March 29, 2007)
- Lawmakers fail to address funeral picketing before session's end (May 11, 2006)
- National legislation makes funeral protesting a crime (May 10, 2006)
- Agreement reached on funeral picketing bill (May 2, 2006)
- Lawmakers struggle to stop Phelps, followers (March 28, 2006)
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