North Dakota criminalizes abortion again, Senator Janne Myrdal says she’s ‘thrilled and grateful’

The only thing worse than stripping women of their abortion rights is calling it an achievement. Sadly, North Dakotans have once again had their bodily autonomy taken from them, and Republicans are celebrating.

On Nov. 21, 2025, the North Dakota Supreme Court reversed last year’s lower-court ruling that made abortions temporarily legal. The state has now reinstated the law passed in April 2023, which puts a “near-total ban” on abortions. With that, North Dakota has joined 12 other states enforcing bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy.

In Sept. 2024, District Judge Bruce Romanick called the April 2023 law “unconstitutionally vague” and argued that it violated the state constitution. In his 24-page order, he established that “The law as currently drafted takes away a woman’s liberty and her right to pursue and obtain safety and happiness.” He then ruled against the law and allowed abortion as a fundamental right for North Dakota women. (via CBS)

Judge claims abortion is not a natural right, Republicans celebrate

Now, during last week’s hearing, three justices again argued in favor of making abortions legal. However, the state law requires agreement from at least four of the five justices to deem a law unconstitutional. So, the mandatory majority couldn’t be reached to protect Judge Romanick’s decision, and his ruling was overthrown. (via AP)

In their defense, Justice Jerod Tufte claimed that the natural rights guaranteed by the state constitution in 1889 do not include abortion rights. One would think that if there were more women on the panel, they would support women. But the law reinstated by the court originally came from a 2023 legislation introduced by Republican state Sen. Janne Myrdal. A woman.

After Friday’s decision, she said,

“I am thrilled and grateful that two justices that are highly respected saw the truth of the matter, that this is fully constitutional for the mother and for the unborn child and thereafter for that sake.”

Meanwhile, North Dakota Republican Attorney General Drew Wrigley was also overjoyed at the ruling. Calling it a “pro-life legislation,” he said,

“The Supreme Court has upheld this important pro-life legislation, enacted by the people’s Legislature. The Attorney General’s office has the solemn responsibility of defending the laws of North Dakota, and today those laws have been upheld.”

Abortions are now a Class C felony in North Dakota

While the enforced law protects patients from prosecution, performing an abortion in North Dakota will now be prosecuted as a Class C felony. Additionally, they can be fined up to $10,000 and face up to five years in prison. There are now only two exceptions that allow an abortion under the law.

The first is in case of medical necessity to save the mother’s life, and the second is if the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest. However, the second exception only applies if abortion is performed within the first six weeks of pregnancy. However, no abortion clinics are currently operating in North Dakota after the ongoing struggle.

The state’s only abortion provider, Red River Women’s Clinic, reportedly relocated from Fargo to Minnesota in 2022 (via AP). So, even for cases that fall under the two exceptions, residents will have to travel to another state to undergo the procedure.