What was the ruling of Judge Reed O'Connor regarding the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate?

Judge Reed O'Connor ruled that the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate was unconstitutional. This ruling stemmed from a challenge that argued that the mandate to purchase health insurance exceeded Congressional authority under the Commerce Clause and that, without the tax penalty established by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the individual mandate could not be justified. O'Connor concluded that since the mandate was essential to the ACA, striking it down would significantly undermine the rest of the law. This ruling was part of a broader legal debate concerning health care reform and the federal government's powers. The assessment of the mandate's constitutionality had significant implications for health policy and access to healthcare in the United States.