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A ruling by a federal judge in Virginia today could have an impact of Florida’s challenge to the new health care laws. The judge called part of the new health care law unconstitutional. He says the constitution won’t allow the government to mandate its citizens buy health insurance. The mandate is part of a further reaching lawsuit filed by Florida’s attorney general and 20 other states attorneys general. Joe Jacquot, the Attorney General’s Chief of Staff, says what happened in Virginia bodes well for Florida’s suit.

“The judge in Pensacola is reading the briefs, reading the order of the judge in Virginia and visa versa. I’m sure the Virginia judge was looking at our Pensacola judge’s order as well on our motion to dismiss, but he will judge independently. He will look at our case which is both on the individual mandate and also on the Medicaid claim, which is a significant difference in the Virginia case,” said Jacquot.

Oral arguments in Florida’s case are scheduled for 9AM Central Time in Pensacola on Thursday. The hearing is expected to last two and a half hours.