A federal judge who recently declared the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional stayed his ruling to allow for appeals, keeping the Obama-era health law in effect while litigation continues.
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, wrote in a ruling issued Sunday that he stands by his earlier conclusion that the entire law is invalidated by congressional repeal of its fines on people who remain uninsured.
However, because “many everyday Americans would…face great uncertainty” if that ruling were immediately put into effect, Judge O’Connor issued a stay to allow for appeals.
A group of Republican-led states brought the lawsuit seeking to strike down the ACA.
A coalition of Democratic state attorneys general, led by California’s Xavier Becerra, intends to appeal.
Congressional Democrats also plan to appeal.