The controversial health care reform legislation championed by President Obama appears to be on course for a Supreme Court fight after the Justice Department opted not to request an expanded ruling of an 11th Circuit Court of Appeals judgment on Monday.

A three-judge panel ruled in August that Congress had overstepped its bounds by requiring Americans to buy health insurance.  The Obama administration could have appealed the decision to the entire 11th Circuit.  Instead, the administration is now expected to take the case to the Supreme Court when the panel returns to the bench in October.

The majority decision stated “that lawmakers cannot require residents to enter into contracts with private insurance companies for the purchase of an expensive product from the time they are born until the time they die,” according to the Associated Press.

Health care reform is sure to be a key issue in the 2012 presidential election, with all GOP candidates rejecting the legislation.  A Supreme Court ruling would most likely come in the midst of the campaign.