Slain Soldiers Father Must Pay Westboro Court Costs

Albert Snyder, the father of a slain marine whose funeral was targeted by the antigay Westboro Baptist Church, was ordered to pay the protesters' appeal costs.

According to the Associated Press, "On Friday, Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered Snyder to pay $16,510 to Fred Phelps. Phelps is the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, which conducted protests at Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder's funeral in 2006."

A lower court awarded Snyder a $11 million judgment last year, which was halved before being overturned by the Court of Appeals. The case is headed to the Supreme Court, for which Snyder reportedly is struggling to come up with filing fees. The high court will decide whether Westboro's funeral protests are protected by the First Amendment, or are violations of mourners' privacy rights.