On Wednesday, June 8, oral arguments were presented to a three-judge panel of the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta in perhaps the most significant case challenging the mandate provision of the health care law.  Lawyers representing 26 states squared off against lawyers from the Solicitor General’s office of the Justice Department in presenting opposing arguments as to the constitutionality of the mandate provision.  The panel will consider the decision of US District Court Judge Roger Vinson of Florida, who struck down the health care law because he determined that Congress exceeded its authority by promulgating the mandate.  Other Circuit Court panels in Richmond, Virginia and Cincinnati, Ohio have heard arguments challenging the law over the past five weeks.  Legal experts believe it will be some time before the panels issue their decisions, but expect that a final ruling will be made by the US Supreme Court.