Minnesota high court will hear domestic abuse law challenge

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota Supreme Court has agreed to consider a challenge to a state law designed to protect domestic abuse victims.

The law allows judges to impose no contact orders for those suspected of domestic abuse. Bryan Ness says the law is unconstitutional because a judge issued the order without giving him a chance to respond.

Ness was accused of striking his wife during an argument at their Moorhead apartment last year. A Clay County judge ordered him to have no contact with his wife. He was later arrested for violating the order and was charged with a felony.

Defense attorney Mark Nyvold says Ness never had a chance to challenge the prosecutors' request for a no-contact order. Minnesota Public Radio News says the high court is expected to consider the case early next year.