The United States Supreme Court denied Idaho's application to stop a transgender inmate's reassignment surgery, East Idaho News reported.
The court order said that two justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, would have granted the request that the surgery be put on hold.
According to Boise State Public Radio, Adree Edmo can get the surgery that is scheduled for July. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last August the state of Idaho must provide gender-confirmation surgery to Edmomeaning Edmo would be the first inmate to receive the surgery through a court order.
Earlier this month, Gov. Brad Little announced the State of Idaho appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the decision.
A National Center for Lesbian Rights press release stated that Edmo sued the Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) and its private healthcare provider, Corizon Health, for withholding critical medical care.
"The Supreme Court appropriately declined the state's request for a stay that would have prevented Ms. Edmo from getting the care she needs," said Lori Rifkin, Edmo's lead attorney, in the release. "Because the lower court decisions applied settled Eighth Amendment precedent to the facts of this case, there is no basis for further review of those careful and detailed decisions."
"The Court's denial of the stay clears the way for Adree Edmo to get medically necessary surgery that she has needed for years," added National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) Senior Staff Attorney, Amy Whelan, who is co-counsel for Edmo.
The East Idaho News item is at www.eastidahonews.com/2020/05/scotus-denies-idahos-application-to-pause-transgender-inmates-surgery/ .