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Published May 26, 2010, 02:06 PM

Federal judge won’t rule yet on ND farming law

A federal judge says he’ll delay a ruling on whether North Dakota’s anti-corporate farming law is unconstitutional.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge says he’ll delay a ruling on whether North Dakota’s anti-corporate farming law is unconstitutional.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says the law requires the National Audubon Society to sell 263 acres of Stutsman County farmland. The property is part of a larger wildlife sanctuary about 10 miles northeast of Jamestown.

The Audubon Society argues in federal court that North Dakota’s law violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection of the law. Audubon also asserts the North Dakota law violates federal protections for doing business between states.

U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson on Wednesday ruled that the dispute can wait until arguments about the land sale are settled in state court.

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