North Dakota just slammed the brakes on abortion access with a state Supreme Court ruling that’s got both sides fired up.
On Friday, the North Dakota Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s decision, reinstating a law that bans nearly all abortions in the state. This saga kicked off back in April 2023 when then-Governor Doug Burgum, a staunch Republican now serving as Secretary of the Interior, signed the restrictive measure into law.
The Daily Caller reported that the law, which permits exceptions only for rape, incest, and medical emergencies within the first six weeks of pregnancy, was initially challenged and struck down by a district court in September 2024 for being too vague to stand constitutionally.
Fast forward to last week, and the state’s highest court disagreed, ruling to bring the ban back into effect despite a split among the justices.
Interestingly, three of the five justices—each appointed by Republican governors—wanted to keep the law struck down, but North Dakota requires four votes to declare a state law unconstitutional, so the ban stands.
This ruling aligns North Dakota with 13 other states where abortion is restricted at all stages of pregnancy, cementing its place in a bloc of conservative strongholds.
Let’s be clear: the state hasn’t had a facility capable of performing legal abortions since 2022, so this decision just doubles down on an already limited reality for women seeking care.
While some cheer this as a victory for life, others see it as a heavy-handed overreach into personal health decisions—yet another case of government playing doctor.
Republican North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley didn’t hold back, stating, “The Supreme Court has upheld this important pro-life legislation, enacted by the people’s Legislature.”
Well, Mr. Wrigley, that’s one way to frame it, but let’s not pretend this doesn’t leave countless women in a bind, forced to navigate a maze of restrictions or cross state lines for care.
On the flip side, the ACLU of North Dakota argued on X, “Abortion shouldn’t be a political issue. It’s a health care issue.”
Sure, ACLU, health care sounds nice in theory, but when progressive agendas push for unrestricted access, they often sidestep the moral weight of protecting unborn life—a balance this law at least tries to strike with its narrow exceptions.
Meanwhile, voices like Republican State Senator Janne Myrdal and groups such as Students for Life of America celebrated the ruling as a win for both mothers and the unborn, seeing it as a step toward a culture that values every heartbeat.
As this debate rages on, one thing is undeniable: North Dakota’s political landscape, which hasn’t seen a Democratic governor since 1992, remains a tough battleground for those hoping to loosen abortion restrictions, and this ruling only entrenches that reality further.