A federal judge in North Dakota has struck down the state’s abortion ban, ruling that access to abortion is protected under constitutional rights. The ruling comes after the state’s Republican-controlled legislature passed a law banning most abortions in the state. The law, known as the “heartbeat” bill, would have banned abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy.
In his decision, Judge Daniel L. Hovland said that the state’s ban on abortions before fetal viability violated Roe v. Wade and the Constitution. He noted that the Supreme Court has consistently held that a woman has a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy before fetal viability, which is typically around 24 weeks.
The ruling was praised by reproductive rights advocates, who argued that the ban would have severely restricted access to abortion in North Dakota. The state currently has only one abortion clinic, making it difficult for women to obtain the care they need. Additionally, the ban would have forced many women to seek out illegal and unsafe abortions.
The decision comes at a time when abortion rights are under attack across the country. Several states have passed restrictive abortion laws in recent years, seeking to overturn Roe v. Wade and severely limit access to abortion. The ruling in North Dakota is a significant victory for reproductive rights advocates and a major setback for anti-abortion activists.
Despite the ruling, anti-abortion groups have vowed to continue fighting for restrictions on abortion access in North Dakota and across the country. It is likely that the case will be appealed to a higher court, where the battle over abortion rights will continue.
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