UPDATED 5/10/11:
A federal appeals court in Virginia is set to hear arguments on the constitutionality of President Obama’s health care overhaul. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond will hear the case involving the legislation today. The federal government is appealing U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson’s ruling striking down the law’s requirement that individuals buy health insurance or pay a penalty.
The next battle in Virginia’s challenge to the federal health care law starts tomorrow in Richmond. This time around, the decision will be made by a three-judge panel randomly selected from the 14-member 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The U.S. Justice Department is seeking to overturn a District Court ruling last December that found the individual mandate under the new law is unconstitutional. Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is suing over the mandate, which will require most Americans to obtain health insurance or face a fine.
