North Dakota Supreme Court upholds ban on gender-affirming care for minors
North Dakota’s Supreme Court upheld the state’s existing ban on specified gender-affirming medical care for minors in a September 17 decision. In T.D. v. Wrigley, the court affirmed a lower court’s ruling that the challenged provisions of North Dakota Century Code chapter 12.1-36.1 do not violate the state constitution’s liberty and equal protection provisions.
The law restricts clinicians from providing puberty blockers and hormone treatment to minors for gender transition, with an exception for treatment begun before the law took effect in April 2023. The court concluded that the law classifies treatment by age and medical purpose and applied rational-basis review. The ruling leaves the existing ban in force; it does not enact a new ban or decide every possible federal claim.
This is a serious setback for trans young people and families seeking individualized care. North Dakota’s scorecard already reflects the state’s severe healthcare and youth restrictions, so this ruling warrants an updated warning without a new numerical downgrade.
Read the North Dakota Supreme Court opinion notice for T.D. v. Wrigley.