U.S. Court of Appeals for Eighth Circuit to Hear Oral Arguments in Kinder Healthcare Challenge

October 19, 2011


ST. PAUL, Minn. — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on Thursday (Oct. 20) will listen to oral arguments in Lt. Governor Peter Kinder’s constitutional challenge to the individual mandate in the federal healthcare law.

The court will give attorneys representing Lt. Governor Kinder and the federal government 30 minutes each to present arguments.

In July, Lt. Governor Kinder’s challenge garnered the support of 21 states, which filed a brief with the Eight Circuit supporting the lawsuit. In addition, more than 150 elected executive and legislative officials of states within the Eight Circuit filed a separate amicus brief in support of the lawsuit’s claims.

Among the state officials are Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Arkansas Lt. Governor Mark Darr, Missouri House Speaker Steven Tilley, Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, 127 members of the Missouri Legislature and legislative leaders in the Minnesota House.

On Aug. 3, 2010, Missourians approved the Health Care Freedom Act with 71 percent of the vote. The referendum sought to protect Missourians from the individual mandate and was the first time any Americans got to vote on the healthcare law.

WHAT: Oral arguments in Lt. Governor Kinder’s constitutional challenge to the individual mandate in the federal healthcare law
WHERE: Division II, Courtroom 5B
Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse
316 N. Robert St., St. Paul, Minn.
WHEN: 9 a.m.