The lead lawyer for the convicted murderer who won the right to a taxpayer-funded sex change operation said Monday that she will waive legal fees in the case, estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, if the state waives an appeal and provides the surgery.
The declaration came after a federal judge called on lawyers for the prisoner and the state Department of Correction to negotiate a settlement, saying the state may be facing some hefty bills after losing the decadelong case. Under law, a prevailing plaintiff is entitled to reimbursement for money spent on the case.
Comments
The Globe’s policy on referring to this person as a “she” is shameful. Until the sex change surgery is complete this person is a male. He still has the male anatomy regardless of what he thinks. The Globe, the judge and the rest of the liberal community on forgets the ultimate victim in this horrendous event but the wife and HER brutal murder. Prison is a place for punishment – this prisoner is using it to punish everyone else. Society is falling victim to this murder once again.
I despise the way the Globe kowtows to criminals. The only way I know to punish the Globe is to cancel my subscription. Unfortunately there lunes that run the Globe will fund jobs elsewhere and the little guy will be hurt.
PleasePlease note that this "liberal judge" is a Ronald Reagan appointee. Google it.
so? The issue is the decision that was made - which ought to be revoked.
The mistake made by the state was fighting the recommendations of its own doctors for 10 years. They should have caved earlier and been done with it. The long, hopeless fight is what's really screwing the taxpayers, not the operation.
I can't agree or disagree with the judge's decision because I haven't heard any testimony or read any of the case documentation. I have to trust that the judge did his job.
What's really amazing to me is how hateful someone can be over a pronoun. The illogic of the tirade indicates a need for mental counselling.
Isn't it amazing what poor judgement some judges have?
boy is this case going to open up a door, it's only tax payer money, what's the problem, well the 53% that pay taxes.
The ruling is an outrage! No doubt as a transgendered individual, there is suffering and painful conflict within. But he is a convicted murderer! I for one, would rather see tax payer dollars used to raise his poor wife from the dead as a show of justice for her family. There is nothing just about this ruling. What did the judge read into this case that moved him to this decision? It certainly is not a ruling that serves the common good! So, taxpayers...think how happy this convicted murderer will be as you cross over a crumbling bridge to work each day, or when another autistic child is denied services, or an elderly citizen freezes to death in his or her home this winter because the energy costs are unaffordable to many law abiding citizens... This ruling is totally out of context with reality.
So anyone who wants to have a sex change and cannot afford it, you know what you have to do to get the survery...
Sadly the operation is probably cheaper than the fight. If the state can make sure this is not a precedent they should just give in. I'd fight it on principle but the chances of winning are slight.
This offer of settlement is the correct outcome. The Department of Corrections is the most overlooked and expensive operation in the commonwealth. Since few citizens care about the welfare (as opposed to happiness) of prisoners, they care little about the DOC's budget and actions. The department will never recoup the fees IT spent defending the lawsuit. It could have, years ago, prudently approved the surgery and saved the commonwealth a fortune in wasted time and legal expenses. Now is the time to do the the financially smart thing, if not the right thing.
This case is simply too bizarre: Don't prisoners get money? This prisoner ought to pay his own legal fees - and - furthermore, we should not have to pay for his or anyone else to have sex change surgery. Paying for sex-change surgery is no different than paying for a prisoner's facial plastic surgery because they think they are not attractive enough. Sheer nonsense. Who ever thinks tax-payers ought to pay for this can contribute funds to cover the cost. Ask the Judge for a donation.