North Dakota’s abortion law now before the state Supreme Court

TheNorthDakotaSupremeCourtheardargumentsonwhetheralowercourtrulingblockingthestate’sabortionbanshouldremain. DistrictJudgeBruceRomanicksaidthelawpassedinthe2023Legislature—whichprohibitsabortion,exceptforthelifeofthewomanorcasesofrapeorincest,limitedtothefirstsixweeksofpregnancy–wastoovague,andgoesagainstthestate’sConstitution.RomanickruledtheConstitutionprotectsawoman’srightto“pro-creative”autonomy,whichwouldincludetherighttoseekanabortionbeforethefetusisviable. Thestateappealedthatdecision. “NothinginourhistorysuggestsourConstitutionhaseverbeenunderstoodtoguaranteeabortionsunrelatedtothemother’slifeorhealth,”AssistantNorthDakotaAttorneyGeneralPhilAxttoldtheCourt.“TheywereillegalinthisstatebeforetheConstitutionwasadopted,whenitwasadopted,andfornearlyacenturyafterwards,untilRoe.Andit’snotlikethoselawswereunknownorunenforced.Peoplewereprosecutedunderthem.AndtheDistrictCourtd