DOJ Requests Supreme Court Review of Health Care Reform Law

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) requested that the United States Supreme Court review the constitutionality of President Obama's signature health care reform law after a 3 judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit struck it down. The timing of the request virtually assures that a decision on the Affordable Care Act will come in the thick of next year's presidential campaign.

In a statement, DOJ stated:

“The Department has consistently and successfully defended this law in several court of appeals, and only the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled it unconstitutional. We believe the question is appropriate for review by the Supreme Court.

“Throughout history, there have been similar challenges to other landmark legislation such as the Social Security Act, the Civil Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act, and all of those challenges failed. We believe the challenges to Affordable Care Act — like the one in the 11th Circuit — will also ultimately fail and that the Supreme Court will uphold the law.”

A Washington Post news story about the appeal may be viewed here.

Source: DOJ News Release