Judges hearing health challenge are all Democratic appointees

All three of the judges hearing healthcare reform arguments before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday were appointed by Democrats, including two by President Obama himself.

“This could not have turned out much better” for the administration, court watcher Brad Joondeph writes on the ACA litigation blog. 

The appeals court in Richmond is the first appellate court to hear arguments challenging the constitutionality of the healthcare law’s requirement that everyone buy insurance. Whatever the outcome, the losing party will still have the option of asking for a review by the entire court.

{mosads}The three judges hearing the case on Tuesday are Obama appointees Andre Davis and James Wynn, along with Diana Gribbon Motz, who was appointed by President Clinton. Motz is the senior judge on the panel and is expected to assign the opinion to herself.