North Dakota Supreme Court Blocks Abortion Ban During Ongoing Appeal

The court upheld a lower court's ruling that found the state's near-total abortion ban unconstitutional, citing concerns over vagueness and health exceptions.

The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled that the state's abortion ban will remain unenforced while an appeal of its constitutionality proceeds.
The 2023 law criminalized most abortions, with narrow exceptions for rape, incest (up to six weeks), or serious physical health risks, but excluded mental health conditions.
State District Judge Bruce Romanick previously struck down the law in September 2024, calling it unconstitutionally vague and an infringement on medical freedom.
The court criticized the law's vague language and inconsistent health exemptions, stating it could endanger patients and criminalize doctors providing necessary care.
North Dakota has had no abortion providers since 2022, with the state's sole clinic relocating to Minnesota following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.