U.S. District Court Judge Jon Tigar ruled that denying 51-year-old Michelle Lael Norsworthy the surgery violates her constitutional rights. The ruling was made in San Francisco, and marks the second time nationwide this surgery has been provided for an inmate. It marks the first time in California history.
Despite the ruling, there is still a change corrections officials will file an appeal.
A usual sexual reassignment surgery runs about $100,000, which state tax dollars would fund.