Texas federal judge stays his ruling that ObamaCare is unconstitutional

Peter Weber, The Week US's avatar
By
Published
Protesters march towards the Federal Building during a 'Save the Affordable Care Act' rally in Los Angeles, California on March 23, 2017.
(Image credit: Mark Ralston/Getty Images)

In a late-Friday ruling on Dec. 14, U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth ruled that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional, siding with a group of Republican state attorneys general. On Sunday, O'Connor wrote that he stands by his decision that ObamaCare must be ended nationwide because of the zeroed-out individual mandate, but he is staying his ruling because "many everyday Americans would ... face great uncertainty" if it went into effect before appellate courts and possibly the Supreme Court weighed in. Most legal scholars expect O'Connor's ruling to be overturned, though he does have his boosters, too.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up
Explore More
Peter Weber, The Week US
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.