Judge rules state must pay for convicted murderer’s transgender surgery

A federal judge has ruled that the state of Indiana must provide transgender surgery to an inmate serving time for murder. The ruling sparked a heated response from the state, highlighting ongoing tensions over state laws and the constitutional rights of incarcerated individuals.

Autumn Cordellione, previously known as Jonathan Richardson, is currently serving a 55-year sentence in an all-male state prison for the murder of the inmate's 11-month-old stepdaughter.

In 2023, the inmate filed a lawsuit with the assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, challenging a state law that prohibits taxpayer funding for medical procedures for transgender individuals in prison. The court ruled in favor of the ACLU, stating that the surgery is necessary for Cordellione's treatment of gender dysphoria, a condition the inmate was diagnosed with in 2020.

The court has ordered the Indiana Department of Corrections to take all reasonable actions to facilitate the requested procedure for the transition surgery.

“Today marks a significant victory for transgender individuals in Indiana’s prisons," ACLU Legal Director Ken Falk said in a statement . "Denying evidence-based medical care to incarcerated people simply because they are transgender is unconstitutional. We are pleased that the court agreed.”

The state attorney general has indicated that the legal fight is not over, promising to appeal the decision and predicting that it will ultimately reach the highest court.

“These cases are bubbling up all over the country," Attorney General Todd Rokita said. "I anticipate that whether it's this case or one just like it, you're going to see the Supreme Court make a decision, and it should be pretty easy.”

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