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July 23, 2013

Federal Judge Blocks North Dakota Abortion Ban 
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A federal judge in North Dakota has blocked what could have been the
country's strictest anti-abortion ban from coming into effect. The law,
which was set to take effect on August 1, would have banned abortion
once a fetal or embryonic heartbeat can be detected, which happens at
about six weeks of pregnancy when many women do not realize they are
pregnant. Monday's order came in response to a lawsuit filed by the
Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of the state's only remaining
abortion clinic, which is in Fargo. In his decision granting a
preliminary injunction, U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland called the
North Dakota ban "a blatant violation of the constitutional guarantees
afforded to all women."

 

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