Supreme Court won't hear Liberty U.'s employer mandate lawsuit

The justices did not comment Monday in leaving in place a federal appeals court ruling dismissing Liberty University's lawsuit. 

Liberty made several arguments in challenging the portion of the health care law that requires most employers to provide health insurance to their workers or pay a fine. The 4th U.S. Circuit of Appeals in Richmond, Va., rejected those claims, saying the school's religious freedom was not violated.

The Supreme Court separately is considering whether for-profit corporations can mount religious objections to the law's requirement to include birth control among preventive health benefits. It is slated to hear arguments from two companies, Hobby Lobby Inc., an Oklahoma-based arts and crafts chain, and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp., a Pennsylvania cabinet company, who argue that being forced to provide contraception violates their religious beliefs.

The case turned away by the court is Liberty University v. Lew, 13-306.