The state of North Dakota is seeking to block a judge’s ruling that overturned its ban on abortions. State Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has filed a request for a stay of the ruling while the state appeals the decision. The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor, declared that the state’s ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy was unconstitutional.
According to Stenehjem, the ruling puts the state’s “interest in protecting the unborn child” at risk. He argued that the decision contradicts previous rulings by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld similar abortion bans in other states.
The ban, known as the “heartbeat bill,” was passed by the North Dakota legislature in 2021. It prohibited abortions once a fetal heartbeat was detected, which typically occurs around six weeks of pregnancy. Opponents of the law argued that it effectively banned nearly all abortions in the state, as many women are not aware they are pregnant at six weeks.
The ruling by Judge Traynor was praised by abortion rights advocates, who argued that the ban was a violation of women’s constitutional rights. They called the decision a victory for reproductive justice and criticized the state for attempting to block it.
The case is expected to be closely watched as it moves through the legal system. If the state’s request for a stay is granted, the ban on abortions after six weeks will remain in effect while the appeal is pending. However, if the request is denied, the ruling will go into effect immediately, allowing women in North Dakota to access abortions beyond six weeks of pregnancy.
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