North Dakota's highest court has ruled that the state's overturned abortion ban will not be enforced during an appeal of a judge's ruling that struck down the law in September.

Attorneys will debate whether a 2023 law banning gender-affirming treatment for anyone under 18 violates personal autonomy and equal protection rights under the state constitution.

The eight-day trial will consist of personal testimony from parents and children directly impacted and forced to travel to Minnesota to receive gender-affirming care.

Opening arguments begin today in a lawsuit challenging North Dakota's ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth. The case stems from a law change the state legislature approved in 2023, mirroring action in other conservative-led states.