North Dakota has banned almost all abortions. A new law signed by governor Doug Burgum makes it a felony for doctors to perform abortions in most cases. Rape and incest victims are exempt, but only during the first six weeks of pregnancy.
Last year the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision triggered an abortion ban in the state. However, in March the North Dakota Supreme Court blocked that ban until an ongoing lawsuit over its constitutionality is complete. Referencing the state Supreme Court’s stay, Governor Burgum said that the new law “reaffirms North Dakota as a pro-life state.”
He’s right. The law, which goes into effect immediately, passed by an overwhelming 42-5 in the state senate and an equally impressive 76-14 in the house. Representative Mike Lefor serves as the Majority Leader of the Republican caucus and had this to say during debate:
When we talk about these life-altering decisions, let’s remember this: We’re speaking for those who can’t speak for themselves. We need to protect their rights, too. At the end of the day, we passed a trigger law in 2007, and I have no idea why the North Dakota Supreme Court is legislating. Our job is to legislate; theirs is to interpret. So we’re going to send another message to the North Dakota Supreme Court: This is what this legislature wants. We want pro-life in North Dakota.
The state’s only abortion provider, Red River Women’s Clinic, brought the original lawsuit against North Dakota’s trigger law. Clinic director Tammi Kromenaker told The Associated Press that lawyers at the Center for Reproductive Rights are likely to challenge the new law in court as well.
