![Abortion North Dakota Abortion North Dakota](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ap172274338424.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
A federal judge overturned Wednesday a North Dakota law that banned early abortions, the Associated Press reports.
The law made it illegal for a woman to get an abortion after a fetal heartbeat was detected. That can happen as early as six weeks into pregnancy—often before a woman even knows she’s pregnant.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland ruled that the law was “invalid and unconstitutional.”
North Dakota has only one abortion clinic, located in Fargo. The Fargo clinic filed a lawsuit against the early abortion ban in July with the support of the New York-based Center for Reproductive rights.
The overturned law was among four anti-abortion bills that North Dakota Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed in 2013 with the support of the state’s Republican-dominated legislature.
[AP]
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Biden Drops Out of Presidential Race , Endorses Harris to Replace Him
- Why Biden Dropped Out
- The Chaos and Commotion of the RNC in Photos
- Why We All Have a Stake in Twisters’ Success
- 8 Eating Habits That Actually Improve Your Sleep
- Stop Feeling Bad About Sweating
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Get Our Paris Olympics Newsletter in Your Inbox
Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com