ACLJ Urges Appeals Court to Expedite Appeal in ObamaCare Challenge

WASHINGTON, March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), focusing on constitutional law, announced today it is urging a federal appeals court to move swiftly in considering its appeal of a federal district court decision which failed to declare ObamaCare unconstitutional.

The ACLJ filed its notice of appeal on February 25th and has now filed several documents urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to expedite the appeal, either with a three-judge panel or permit the full appeals court to consider the case immediately.

"Time is of the essence with this case and that's why we're asking the appeals court to expedite matters and move forward with this appeal quickly," said Edward White, Senior Counsel of the ACLJ. "We believe the federal district court erred in its decision to dismiss our lawsuit. We're confident that on appeal our argument that Congress does not have the constitutional authority to authorize the individual mandate will prevail. Simply put, the federal government cannot compel people to purchase health insurance, especially when doing so would violate a deeply held religious belief."

In its filings, the ACLJ contends that "the earlier the constitutionality of the health care law is definitively decided, the better it will be for this country."  

"Prompt resolution of the constitutionality of the individual mandate will benefit all Americans, whether individuals, businesses, or the States in general," the ACLJ argues.

In its lawsuit, the ACLJ argues that Congress does not have the power under the Constitution to require Americans to purchase health insurance and that the mandate also violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.

In addition, the ACLJ has filed an amicus brief on behalf of 28 members of Congress and more than 70,000 Americans supporting the Commonwealth of Virginia's lawsuit challenging the mandate in federal court in Richmond. The ACLJ also has filed an amicus brief on behalf of 63 members of Congress and more than 70,000 Americans supporting the lawsuit brought by 26 states in the federal court in Florida.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C. The ACLJ is online at www.aclj.org.

SOURCE American Center for Law and Justice

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