Posting of Bonds and Liens Ordered In Westboro Funeral Picketing Appeal

The Baltimore Sun last week reported that a Maryland federal district judge has ordered two leaders of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church to post bond in order to proceed with their appeal of a $5 million judgment issued against them in February. (See prior posting). The church and its leaders, particularly known for their activities protesting U.S. permissiveness toward gays and lesbians, were sued over their picketing of the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder and related website postings. The defendants, daughters of the Church's founder, were ordered to post bonds of $100,000 and $125,000 respectively. The court also placed a lien on the properties of the church and its founder, Fred W. Phelps Sr., to protect the assets so plaintiffs can ultimately execute judgment against them if they prevail on appeal.