Westboro Baptist Church

It's an ugly case about ugly actions, but it defends some of America's dearest constitutional principles. And when the Supreme Court rules in Snyder v. Phelps, a church that holds anti-gay protests at the funerals of fallen U.S. soldiers will help define the rights of everyone.

When Congregation Beth Simchat Torah heard that the hate-spewing protesters of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church were coming to their turf, they cleverly decided to make a virtue of a visit by the fringe group, which has picketed the funerals of U.S. soldiers to get publicity for its...