The Westboro Baptist Church's picketing of funerals cannot be liable for a tort of emotional distress. Decided March 2, 2011 (argued October 6, 2010). Opinion of the Court: John Roberts → go there Dissenting: Alito. Applied: the First Amendment → go there Topic: Freedom of speech and of the press. Snyder v. Phelps, 562 U.S. 443 (2011), is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in which the Court held that speech made in a public place on a matter of public concern cannot be the basis of liability for a tort of emotional distress, even if the speech is viewed as offensive or outrageous. Wiki link