North Dakota Judge Upholds Controversial Abortion Law

Red River Women's Clinic's request to block part of the law denied, setting stage for jury trial in August 2024.

North Dakota State District Judge Bruce Romanick denied a request to temporarily block part of the state’s abortion law that doctors claim puts them at risk of prosecution if they perform an abortion.
The law, signed by Gov. Doug Burgum in April 2023, allows doctors who violate the measure to be charged with a Class C felony, which includes a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.
The law bans abortion with limited exceptions in the state, such as rape, incest, or a medical emergency only during the first six weeks.
Red River Women’s Clinic, which once was North Dakota’s only abortion provider, sued the state over the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling.
The jury trial for the lawsuit is expected to start in August 2024.