Appeals court to hear inmate sex change case

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.

Kosilek, who was born a man, was convicted in the 1990 murder of wife Cheryl Kosilek.

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.

Cox Media Group