Supreme Court takes center stage in health-care debate

The U.S. Supreme Court staged three days of arguments over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March.

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March 28, 2012

Lisa Nancollas, center, of Lewistown, Pa. and Tea Party Patriots members rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on the last of three days of oral arguments over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

March 28, 2012

The Rev. Rob Schenck, center right, and the Rev. Patrick Mahoney hold a prayer vigil on Day 3 in the Supreme Court hearings on the health-care law.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

March 28, 2012

Reps. Michelle Bachman (R-Minn.), right, and Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) confer before a press conference in front of the Supreme Court on Day 3 in the Supreme Court hearings on the health-care law.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

March 28, 2012

Rep. Michelle Bachman (R-Minn.), right, speaks at a press conference in front of the Supreme Court.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

March 28, 2012

A tear falls from the eye of Susan Clark of Santa Monica, Calif., as she prays in her "war paint" outside the Supreme Court.

Carolyn Kaster / AP

March 27, 2012

Amy Brighton from Medina, Ohio, who opposes health-care reform, rallies in front of the Supreme Court in Washington.

Charles Dharapak / AP

March 27, 2012

Deborah Tannenbaum leads demonstrators who support the health-care law in front of the Supreme Court on the second day of a three-day process of hearing arguments concerning the legality of President Obama’s health-care law.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

Health-care law supporters, including Samantha Gordon, an assistant communications director at NARAL, chant and dance to pop music in front of the Supreme Court on the second day of a three-day process of hearing arguments concerning the legality of President Obama’s health-care law.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

Across the lawn from the Supreme Court, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), center right, with Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), left, walk to the podium to comment on the second day of a three-day process of hearing arguments concerning the legality of the president’s health-care law.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

A view from the front of the Supreme Court on the second day of a three-day process of hearing arguments concerning the legality of President Obama’s health-care law.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

Health-care law supporters, including Ashley Coltrane, right, chant and dance to pop music in front of the Supreme Court on the second day of a three-day process of hearing arguments concerning the legality of the law.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

Across the lawn from the Supreme Court, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), center right, speaks to the Attorney General of Florida Pam Bondi, center left, during a press conference on the second day of a three-day process of hearing arguments concerning the legality of President Obama’s health-care law.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

Mike Carvin, center left, head counsel representing plaintiff NFIB, along with Gregory Katsas, left, and Hashim Mooppan, right, answer questions from reporters in front of the Supreme Court at the conclusion of the second day of a three-day process of hearing arguments concerning the legality of the President Obama’s health-care law.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

Students Nanah Fofanah, left, and Vicki Yeroian protest in favor of the health-care bill in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

A decorated van passes in front of the Supreme Court.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

Amy Brighton, who is against the health-care bill, protests in front of the Supreme Court.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

Kevin Farrelly, left, Lisa Dowling, center, and Rachel Wolf, who support the health-care overhaul, gather in front of the Supreme Court, on the second day of a three-day process of hearing arguments concerning the legality of the measure.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

Having a cup of coffee on a chilly spring morning, Thomas Dollar, dressed as Lady Liberty, is protesting in favor of the health-care overhaul, on the second day of a three-day process of Supreme Court arguments on Capitol Hill.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

In front of the Supreme Court, activists gather and protest on Capitol Hill.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

In front of the Supreme Court, Theresa Browngold holds her signs as activists gather and protest.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 27, 2012

The opposing point of view protests next to Gregg Cummings, center, who is against the bill, in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 26, 2012

Protesters gather in front of the Supreme Court concerning the legality of the health-care overhaul.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 26, 2012

Activists and media in front of the Supreme Court begin the first day of a three-day process of hearing arguments concerning the legality of the health-care overhaul.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 26, 2012

Placeholder Ron Brown, right, wakes up and has a smoke as tickets are given out on the line to hear oral arguments concerning the legality of the health-care overhaul.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 26, 2012

From left, Kaitlin Jeffery, Julia West and Peggy Nienzber stand praying early on a clear and cool morning, along with other protesters in front of the Supreme Court on the first day of a three-day process of hearing arguments concerning the legality of the health-care overhaul, on Capitol Hill.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 26, 2012

Robert Turrill and Pastor Mark Murrow pray in front of the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 26, 2012

Activists and media in front of the Supreme Court begin the first day of a three-day process of hearing arguments concerning the legality of the health-care overhaul, on Capitol Hill.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 26, 2012

Members of the public line up as the Supreme Court begins three days of arguments on the health-care reform law signed by President Obama in Washington.

Charles Dharapak / AP

March 26, 2012

A woman holds a ticket to hear the first day of arguments over the fate of President Obama's health-care law, outside the Supreme Court in Washington.

Jason Reed / Reuters

March 26, 2012

A man holds the first ticket given to a member of the public to witness the first day's arguments over the fate of President Obama's health-care law, outside the Supreme Court in Washington.

Jason Reed / Reuters

March 26, 2012

Members of the Supreme Court Bar wait in line at the lawyers' entrance to watch the first day of legal arguments over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at the Supreme Court in Washington.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

March 26, 2012

Business owner Theresa Browngold protests in front of the Supreme Court in support of the health-care overhaul.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

March 25, 2012

Several religious groups rallied near the steps of the Supreme Court to express their opposition to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the health-care overhaul pushed through Congress by the Obama administration. At one point some got on their knees to pray that the justices would make the right decision. Mihn Chau Levan of Arlington, wearing blue gloves, was one of them.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

March 25, 2012

Opponents of the Obama administration's health-care overhaul pray the justices of the Supreme Court make the right decision on a challenge to the law.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

March 25, 2012

Members of several religious groups rally outside the Supreme Court building to express opposition to the Obama administration's health-care law.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

March 25, 2012

A hand holds up a rosary during the rally outside the Supreme Court building.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

March 25, 2012

Pat Kohr of Ellicott City, left, prays during the rally outside the Supreme Court.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

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