Will Westboro decision lessen protection for free speech?

If the family of a dead marine prevails in its lawsuit against Westboro Baptist Church, the decision could diminish First Amendment protection for offensive speech, experts say.

“If it prevails, it will mean bad laws and could be detrimental to the First Amendment rights in the United States,” said Ronald Collins, a scholar at the First Amendment Center in Arlington, Va. “It could have very significant impact.”