With the Supreme Court expected to issue its ruling on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act tomorrow, it’s a good time to revisit the oral arguments that the Court heard about the law back in March. At the time, to make up for the lack of video from the courtroom—the Justices still won’t allow cameras—we put together the next-best thing. Here, again, are some of the key moments from the proceedings, illustrated (to great effect, if we do say so ourselves) with a little help from the courtroom sketch artists.
“These people are not stupid”: Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, arguing on behalf of the Obama Administration, discusses the rationale for the mandate with Justice Elena Kagan, and defends it to Justice Antonin Scalia.
“Virtually no one, perhaps with the exception of one per cent of the population, can afford the massive cost if the unexpected happens”: Justice Sonia Sotomayor explains General Verrilli’s arguments for him. Speaking first is Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Justice Scalia also chimes in with some tough questions for Verrilli.
“Because we are human beings, we all suffer from the risk of getting sick”: Justice Anthony Kennedy, who’s expected to be perhaps the lone swing vote in this case, rebuts arguments made by Paul Clement, the lawyer arguing against the law. Also speaking is Justice Kagan.
“Can the government require you to buy a cell phone?”: Chief Justice John Roberts questions Verrilli about the limits of the power that the government is arguing it has in this case.
Read the New Yorker’s full coverage of the Supreme Court’s historic health-care decision.
