Federal Judge Slaps Down Westboro Baptist Church – Again

A federal judge has yet again slapped down the Westboro Baptist Church, which is trying to “defend” an unconstitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

On November 4, Election Day, federal judge Daniel Crabtree struck down a ban on same-sex marriage in Kansas. That ruling came a week after the infamous Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church filed a motion to intervene in the case, claiming that the State of Kansas was not rigorously defending the marriage ban.

“Same-sex marriage will destroy Kansas,” the WBC’s brief stated. “If this Court requires Kansas officials to treat what God has called abominable as something to be respected, revered, and blessed with the seal-of-approval of the government, that will cross a final line with God. The harm that will befall this state, when the condign destructive wrath of God pours out on Kansans is the ultimate harm to the health, welfare and safety of the people.”

Less than a week after striking down the ban, Judge Crabtree responded to the Westboro motion to intervene, and denied it.

Just days later, couples in Kansas were marrying.

So the WBC appealed Judge Crabtree’s decision.

And today Judge Crabtree responded by denying it again.

“WBC may have extensive experience litigating their rights to free exercise of religion,” Judge Crabtree granted. “But as the Court explained above, plaintiffs here only seek the right to marry and the right to have the state recognize their marriages as valid. These claims only affect marriage in the civil — not the religious — realm. Any expertise it holds, therefore, is not germane to the claims now before the Court.”

Crabtree was not yet done.

“Moreover,” he added, “WBC’s filings reflect a desire to litigate controversies that do not share common questions of fact or law with the claims in this case.”

The folks who like to call themselves “God Hates Fags” have little recourse or hope.

Kansas sits in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has already upheld rulings striking down bans on same-sex marriage. Conceivably the WBC could try to get the Supreme Court to take its case – they have argued and won another case there before – but that’s unlikely.

 

Image via Twitter