North Dakota judge rules state abortion ban unconstitutional

Zoom in: "The North Dakota Constitution guarantees each individual, including women, the fundamental right to make medical judgments affecting his or her bodily integrity, health, and autonomy, in consultation with a chosen health care provider free from government interference," State District Judge Bruce Romanick wrote in the opinion.

• "This section necessarily and more specifically protects a woman's right to procreative autonomy – including to seek and obtain a pre-viability abortion," the judge said.
• Romanick also ruled that the law violates the state's constitution because it's too vague in defining exceptions to the ban.

Context: The ruling comes after the state sought to dismiss a lawsuit filed in 2022 by the state's then-only abortion clinic, which has since relocated to Minnesota.

• The clinic had asked the court to strike down the ban in its entirety, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights, which brought the suit on behalf of the clinic.

What they're saying: Meetra Mehdizadeh, staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, said the ruling is "a win for reproductive freedom" but pointed out that there are no abortion clinics left in the state.

• "That means most people seeking an abortion still won't be able to get one, even though it is legal," Mehdizadeh said.
• Republican Gov. Doug Burgum's office did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. The office of state Attorney General Drew Wrigley said they would have a statement on the decision later Thursday.

Catch up quick: Burgum signed a bill in April 2023 banning abortion at six weeks of pregnancy.

• It's a felony crime and the only allowed exceptions are in cases of rape or incest up until six weeks' gestation.

Editor's note: The spelling of Judge Bruce Romanick's name has been corrected.