North Dakota Supreme Court Strikes Down Abortion Ban as Unconstitutional.

The North Dakota Supreme Court, made up of five Republicans, unanimously ruled that the state constitution protects abortion "where it is necessary to preserve her life or health," blocking a ban that criminalized such procedures. The ruling explicitly guarantees abortion access whenever it is "necessary to prevent severe, life-altering damage." The decision suggests that all abortion restrictions, not only those that protect a patient's life or health, must survive strict scrutiny.