Supreme Court takes no action on Obama healthcare case

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks during the launch of ''Joining Forces'', a national initiative in support of service members and their families, in the East Room at the White House in Washington, April 12, 2011.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court took no action Monday on a request to speed up a ruling on President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul law, his signature domestic accomplishment that has provoked a fierce political battle.

The justices were scheduled on Friday to consider the state of Virginia's appeal seeking to invoke a rarely used procedure to bypass the normal appeals process and speed up a Supreme Court ruling on the law's constitutionality.

Legal and financial analysts expected the justices to reject the request.

In orders released on Monday, the Supreme Court took no action in the case. The court did not grant Virginia's request, nor did it deny it, as the Obama administration has urged.

The justices often take no action in a high-profile case when they want more time to consider it. The justices could consider the healthcare law again at a private conference on April 23.

Several federal trial judges around the nation have upheld the law but others declared it unconstitutional on the grounds Congress overstepped its authority in requiring that Americans start buying health insurance in 2014 or pay a penalty.

If the justices reject Virginia's appeal, that probably would put off Supreme Court review of the law until its 2011-12 term that begins in October, depending on how fast the appeals courts rule. (Reporting by James Vicini, Editing by Doina Chiacu)