Democratic Attorneys General move to intervene in GOP case against Obamacare News
Democratic Attorneys General move to intervene in GOP case against Obamacare

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra [official website], along with the attorneys general of 14 other states and the District of Columbia, filed a motion Monday to intervene and defend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) [JURIST news archive] against a challenge [text, PDF] to its constitutionality.

The suit challenging the ACA was filed in February by 20 Republican-led states, including Texas and Wisconsin, alleging that the ACA is unconstitutional [JURIST reports] after a tax law passed in December eliminates the penalty for not purchasing health insurance. Because the ACA has previously been upheld by the Supreme Court [JURIST report] under Congress’ tax power, the challengers contend that the elimination of the penalty undermines the ACA’s constitutional basis.

The Trump administration has indicated that it does not intend to defend the ACA in court. The 16 states now seek to intervene to defend the law and prevent the harm that they claim will result if the ACA is struck down, including the loss of healthcare to their populations and the federal funds the law provides to states.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Justice Department brings anit-trust action against AT&T

On November 20, 1974, the Department of Justice filed its final anti-trust suit against AT&T. United States v. AT&T was ultimately settled out of court with an agreement that the corporation would break up its monopoly on phone service throughout the country.

Nuremberg war crimes trials began

On November 20, 1945, the war crimes trials of Nazi World War II leaders began in the German city of Nuremberg. Review the Nuremberg Tribunal's Charter and the verdicts and sentences handed down on major war figures.

Winston Churchill born

On November 20, 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was born in Woodstock, England. He would go on to lead the United Kingdom as Prime Minister through World War II. Toward the end of the war, Churchill worked with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft the treaties and accords that have defined the world since WWII. A 2002 poll by the BBC declared Churchill the Greatest Briton of all time.

New Jersey ratifies Bill of Rights

New Jersey ratified the Bill of Rights, a set of 10 fundamental amendments to the US Constitution, on November 20, 1789, becoming the first state to do so. The state also ratified an amendment on federal representation which ultimately failed. Additionally, New Jersey rejected an amendment on congressional salaries, which would eventually become the 27th Amendment more than 200 years later. Read the articles ratified by New Jersey.