Crowds Gather as Supreme Court Hears Health Care Law Arguments—PICTURES

By National Journal Staff

Updated: March 28, 2012 | 2:16 p.m.
March 26, 2012 | 9:29 a.m.

Opponents and supporters of the health care law face off outside the Supreme Court as the nine justices hear three days of oral arguments on the constitutionality of the 2010 measure. Here is the scene near the high court:

Activists both for and against the Affordable Care Act have a relatively civil discourse in front of the Supreme Court steps as the justices hear arguments inside on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, the last day of hearings in the case. (Chet Susslin)

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is escorted by security back toward the Supreme Court after a brief break between hearings on Wednesday. (Chet Susslin)

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., leaves the Supreme Court after the Wednesday morning hearing adjourned. (Chet Susslin)

People file out of the Supreme Court after the morning session hearing arguments on the Affordable Care Act on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, the last day of oral arguments. (Chet Susslin)

Holding a sign saying "We Love ObamaCare," supporters of health care reform rally in front of the Supreme Court on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

From left, Janis Haddon of Atlanta; the Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition; the Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council; Linda Door of Laguna Beach, Calif.; and Ken Campbell of the Tea Party Patriots pray in front of the Supreme Court in Washington on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Susan Clark of Santa Monica, Calif., who opposes health care reform, stands on Wednesday with a red hand painted over her mouth to represent what she said is socialism. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Sen. Ron Johnson. R-Wis., speaks to a rally organized by a conservative group called Americans for Prosperity, rallying against the Affordable Care Act at Upper Senate Park on Tuesday. (Chet Susslin)

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks to a crowd at the Americans for Prosperity rally. (Chet Susslin)

Richard Stack, from Linthicum, Md., holds a sign depicting President Obama as a bug. (Chet Susslin)

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., speaks about repealing the Affordable Care Act. (Chet Susslin)

John Oltesvig, from North Carolina, holds up a sign opposing the health care law. (Chet Susslin)

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., speaks to tea party activists in front of the Supreme Court on Tuesday. (Chet Susslin)

Kathy Desmond of Arlington, Va., joins demonstrators outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday. (Chet Susslin)

Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., holds up a miniature copy of the Constitution during a rally against the Obama administration's health care law. (Chet Susslin)

Yasemin Ayarci of Levittown, Pa., holds a sign during a demonstration outside the Supreme Court on the second day of oral arguments over the Affordable Care Act. (Chet Susslin)

Supporters of health care reform rally in front of the Supreme Court on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

People sit in line late Monday waiting for limited access for Tuesday morning's Supreme Court hearing on the Affordable Care Act. (Richard A. Bloom)

Protesters outside the Supreme Court shout, "Protect our care, protect the law." (Chet Susslin)

Annlynn Kruger (left) and artist Theresa BrownGold hold up hand-painted signs in front of the Supreme Court on Monday. (Chet Susslin)

William Young, with his son Liev, 2, stands in support of William's wife and Liev's mother, Ellena, who has had cancer since she was 10.

Linda Door of Laguna Beach, Calif., protests against the Affordable Care Act. (Chet Susslin)

Protesters with tape across their mouths reading "LIFE" stand silent outside the Supreme Court. (Chet Susslin)

Katie Prather, a medical student at Georgetown University, holds her dog Elie during a rally on Monday outside the Supreme Court. (Chet Susslin)

A group of doctors and medical students wearing T-shirts that say "I care for kids and I vote" applaud a speaker outside the Supreme Court. (Chet Susslin)

Dr. Sonia Nagda puts on a pin supporting the health care reform law signed by President Obama as she gathers with other health care professionals in front of the Supreme Court on Monday, (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Jill Andres of New York pets a dog as she camps out in front of the Supreme Court to secure a spot to watch oral arguments on the health care law. (UPI/Kevin Dietsch)

A man places flowers in front of the Supreme Court on Sunday during a rally against abortion a day before the Court will hear arguments on the 2010 health care law. (UPI/Kevin Dietsch)

Police officers stand on the steps in front of the Supreme Court. In addition to protesters, some people were standing in line hoping to be admitted to hear the oral arguments on the 2010 health care law. (UPI/Kevin Dietsch)

People wait in line in front of the Supreme Court a day before the court will begin hearing arguments on the constitutionality of the health care reform law. (UPI/Kevin Dietsch)

A man holds a sign in front of the Supreme Court during a rally against abortion a day before the Court will take up arguments on the health care law. (UPI/Kevin Dietsch)

Antiabortion protesters hold a rally in front of the Supreme Court in Washington. (UPI/Kevin Dietsch)

Rep. Allen West speaks to a large crowd gathered in Upper Senate Park on Tuesday, March 27, 2012. (Chet Susslin)

A protester holds up a sign comparing President Obama to a line of socialists and communists from history. (Chet Susslin)

Sen. Pat Toomey stirs up the crowd while talking about repealing the health care law. (Chet Susslin)

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