Judge To Rule On Inmate's Sex-Change Request
Prison Officials Say Surgery Poses Security Problems
POSTED: 2:33 pm EST December 20, 2009
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/22020271/detail.htmlBOSTON -- Lawyers for a killer who is seeking a taxpayer-funded sex-change operation will again make their case to a federal judge in Boston, while the state also will back up its decision to refuse the treatment.
Michelle Kosilek was born as Robert and has been living as a woman in an all-male prison after being sentenced to life for the murder of his wife, Cheryl, in 1990.
Kosilek sued the state in 2000, saying its refusal to allow the surgery violates her constitutional protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
Prison officials say the surgery would create insurmountable security problems.