State of Play on Health Care Law Court Cases

A federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled Tuesday that President Obama's health care overhaul, which requires individuals to buy health insurance, is unconstitutional.

Judge Christopher Conner's ruling responds to one of more than 30 lawsuits nationwide that have been filed over the so-called individual mandate. The question is sure to reach the Supreme Court.

Since the Obama administration has declined to fast track the question, the cases will have to play out up the judiciary ladder, which means they go to the appellate level after the federal district courts.

Conner's ruling will now head to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, which contains New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. The 3rd Circuit has not ruled on a similar case yet.

The other circuits have ruled as follows:

6th Circuit (Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan): Upheld the mandate

11th Circuit (Florida, Georgia, Alabama): Ruled the mandate unconstitutional

4th Circuit (Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina): Threw out the cases without deciding on the constitutional issues