North Dakota Supreme Court Affirms Ban on Gender-Affirming Surgery and Hormone Therapy for Minors

A unanimous North Dakota Supreme Court decision affirmed the 2023 statute that prohibits gender-affirming surgeries and puberty-blocking medication for minors, rejecting claims that it breaches the state constitution. Justice Douglas Bahr, author of the opinion, argued that the constitution’s text does not grant minors the right to dictate their own medical treatment and that defining fundamental rights by modern medical procedures lacks historical grounding.

The ruling in T.D. v. Wrigley follows a lower-court endorsement of the law and aligns with Governor Doug Burgum’s signing of House Bill 1254. LGBT advocacy group Gender Justice denounced the judgment as harmful to transgender youth, while the conservative Alliance Defending Freedom celebrated it as protection for children. The case adds to a growing national trend, echoing recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that allow similar bans in other states.