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06/21/2012 08:14 PM

Supreme Court delays decisions on landmark cases

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This morning, many across the nation hoped for finite rulings from U.S. Supreme Court Justices in two highly controversial cases, but the decisions have not been made—at least not yet.

For three days in March, the Supreme Court heard arguments on President Obama's signature Healthcare overhaul, drawing hundreds of protestors, press and spectators. It was a similar scene in April as Arizona defended its controversial immigration law in front of the nation’s highest court.

"These cases have a real ability to impact people's daily lives,” Tejinder Singh, attorney and SCOTUSBlog.com contributor, said. “You see people tuning into these cases who normally don't think that the Supreme Court has anything to do with them."

Many hoped Thursday would be the day the Supreme Court would hand down at least one of its rulings. Instead, it’s likely Americans will their answers sometime next week.

The Court will decide whether Arizona law enforcement officials have the right to check the immigration status of those suspected of being in the U.S. illegally while enforcing other laws.

"If the law is upheld then there's a significant probability that other states will use Arizona's law as a model," Singh said.

The high court is also expected to rule on several provisions of the Obama Healthcare reforms. The most notable—whether the government can require citizens to get healthcare and penalize them if they don’t, and what in the law will stand if that portion is struck down.

"They know that if this healthcare case is decided 5-4 against the President's signature policy item, there's going to be a perception among people that are disappointed with that decision that the Court is playing politics," Singh said.

Former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement argued against the United States in both the healthcare and immigration cases. He said cases of this magnitude are good for government in the end.