Thursday, October 25, 2012
Judge Mark Wolf rules that the state must prove that convicted murderer and transgender plaintiff Michelle Kosilek does not need electrolysis treatment.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Thursday, October 25, 2012
Judge Mark Wolfe ruled on Wednesday that the state must prove that former Mansfield resident Michelle Kosilek, formally Robert Kosilek of Mansfield, does not need electrolysis. This ruling comes tewo weeks after Wolf ruled that the state must pay for Kosilek's gender reassignment surgery. Kosilek was convicted of murder in 1990 after he strangled his wife. Wolfe ruled in September that Kosilek is entitled to the surgery and is a necessary medical procedure. Click here to read more.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Convicted killer Michelle Kosilek, formerly of Mansfield, filed papers through his lawyers to get back legal fees from the state.
Michelle Kosilek's lawyers are asking the state to provide $806,000 in legal costs occured during his case to have a state-provided sex change operation. Michelle, when known as Robert Kosilek killed his wife, Cheryl, while living in Mansfield in 1990. Recently, U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf ruled the state has to pay for Kosilek's sex change operation and said legal fees have to be paid, according to Associated Press report. Wolf said the state prison officials violated her Eighth Amendment rights and surgery was the only adequate treatment for the disorder Kosilek suffers from. The Massachusetts Department of Corrections is appealing the case. Kosilek's legal team offered to forgo their fees if the state went along with their client …
Friday, September 28, 2012
LBGT advocates, such as Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) & the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), disappointed with appeal decision.
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) & the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) said on Thursday that they are disappointed with the decision of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections to appeal the ruling last week to allow Michelle Kosilek to have gender reassignment surgery. “There really is no legal ground for this appeal," transgender rights project director for GLAD Jennifer Levi stated in a recent GLAD press release. "We believe the district court decision is very solid and will stand.” Kosilek was convicted of murder in 1990, when she was known as Robert Kosilek, and 12 years ago started a successful lawsuit against the state to allocate taxpayer dollars to her gender reassignment surgery. “We are very …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Judge rules that legal fees in fight for prisoner gender reassignment to be paid by taxpayers.
After a 12-year battle with legal officials, former Mansfield resident Michelle Kosilek says her operation in prison was a "serious medical need," according to the Boston Herald. This month, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf ruled that sexual-reassignment surgery is a viable treatment for Michelle Kosilek's gender-identity disorder. The ruling was found under the Eighth Amendment, which protects against cruel and unusual punishment. In 1990, while a male under the name of Robert, Kosilek strangled his wife and was convicted of her murder. The issue has sparked serious debate as to whether tax payers should foot the bill for gender reassignment surgery for prisoners as a serious medical treatment for a medical condition. Wolf is …
Zoe Brain
2:00 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
The DOC won't let prisoners select medical treatment other than the minimum needed, and certainly won't let them pay for anything better. If it's necessary, the 8th amendment says the DOC has to provide it. Otherwise it's forbidden. The plaintiff here did offer to pay for it, in 1993. This was rejected out of hand, of course. Are there any other medically necessary surgical procedures you think … more ›