BOSTON (AP) — A federal appeals court is set to hear arguments in an appeal of a judge's ruling granting a taxpayer-funded sex change for a Massachusetts transgender inmate serving a life sentence for murder.
The state is appealing a ruling by U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf ordering prison officials to provide sex-reassignment surgery for Michelle Kosilek.
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has scheduled oral arguments for Tuesday.
In his ruling, Wolf found that the surgery is the "only adequate treatment" for Kosilek's gender-identity disorder. State prison officials say they have security concerns and are worried about protecting Kosilek in prison if she has the surgery.
Kosilek, who was born a man, was convicted in the 1990 murder of wife Cheryl Kosilek.