Judge Ends N. Dakota Abortion Ban

On Wednesday, a federal judge overturned North Dakota's law banning abortions after detection of a fetal heartbeat. At as early as six weeks, a fetal heartbeat may be detected, but that is also before many women even know they are pregnant. U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland said the law was "invalid and unconstitutional" and "cannot withstand a constitutional challenge." This was one of the four anti-abortion measures that Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed into law last year. The state's only abortion clinic, which is in Fargo, filed a suit against the fetal-heartbeat law.