Appeals Court Shoots Down Individual Mandate

The 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Friday that the individual mandate provision in President Obama’s Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional.

The ruling by a divided three-judge panel deals another blow to the Obama administration after having faced unrelenting criticism from conservatives since the law passed in March 2010.

An appeals court and three federal judges have previously upheld the controversial measure, while two have ruled it unconstitutional.

The legality of the provision requiring Americans to buy health insurance or face a fine will likely be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.