BALTIMORE— Lawyers for the father of

a Marine who died in Iraq and whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters

say a court has ordered him to pay the protesters’ appeal costs. Lawyers for

Albert Snyder of York, Pa., also say he is struggling to come up with fees

associated with filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court.

The high court agreed earlier this month to consider whether the protesters' message, no matter how provocative and upsetting, is protected by the First Amendment. Members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church have picketed many military funerals to spread their belief that U.S. deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq are punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

On Friday, Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered that Snyder pay costs associated with the Fred Phelps’ appeal. Phelps is the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, which conducted protests at Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder’s funeral in 2006 in Westminster.