5th Circuit pauses Obamacare case due to government shutdown

A federal appeals court has granted the Department of Justice’s request to pause a case that could undo Obamacare as the government’s partial shutdown heads into its 21st day.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans on Friday temporarily paused the case, Texas v. U.S., following a DOJ request that came earlier this week. Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt told the court that DOJ lawyers “are unable to prepare their opposition at this time due to the lapse in appropriations.”