Rather than a 'slam dunk,' Westboro case likely to be a split decision

Editor:

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I was surprised that Barry Paschal didn't do his typical research regarding the Oct. 10 column on the upcoming Supreme Court case involving protests at military funerals.

What I have read is that it will be another 5-4 vote, not a slam dunk for free speech advocates, as he suggested.

In fact, one of the more liberal justices, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, said she couldn't believe how a group could do something as despicable as this.

Some justices do not want to restrict free speech, fearing it would set a precedent.

However, the court has previously restricted free speech, saying you can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater, and it has also shot down pornography cases whose defense was free speech.

Nonetheless, it was refreshing to see a discussion of this polemic in our hometown paper.

Ken Maleck

Augusta