The Supreme Court kicked off the widely anticipated arguments over President Barack Obama’s health care law today. You can read Steven Dennis‘ roundup from the opening day arguments here.

Today’s proceedings were more procedural than anything, with both sides in agreement that the case should be heard now and not in three years’ time.

Justices on both the liberal and conservative wings of the court pressed attorneys for ways around an 1867 law that prohibits people from filing a lawsuit against tax provisions until after they have already paid the tax in question. Both sides of the lawsuit agree that an exemption should be granted, but for different reasons, although the court appointed an attorney to defend the notion — held by a lower court — that the case won’t be ripe until 2015.

Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum made an appearance outside the court after the arguments, using the media spectacle to draw a contrast to frontrunner Mitt Romney, who was in California today.

You can hear the audio recording of today’s court argument here. Below are some scenes captured by our own Tom Williams and Chris Maddaloni.