A federal appeals court ruled that Idaho must pay for a transgender inmate's sex reassignment surgery, CBS Idaho affiliate KBOI-TV reported.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a federal judge in Idaho that the state's denying the surgery for Adree Edmo amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.

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Edmo has been housed in men's prison despite living as a woman for years, according to KBOI.

Her attorney, Deborah Ferguson, has argued that the state's refusal to provide reassignment surgery is unconstitutional and could lead to self harm.

"They certainly would treat a prisoner with cancer, they treat a prisoner with diabetes, or other chronic conditions," Ferguson reportedly said.

"So, we have a medically recognized condition that's very treatable and we have been trying to get her the treatment that she very much needs."

Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) made clear he will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court

"The court's decision is extremely disappointing," Little said in a statement obtained by KBOI-TV.

"The hardworking taxpayers of Idaho should not be forced to pay for a convicted sex offender's gender reassignment surgery when it is contrary to the medical opinions of the treating physician and multiple mental health professionals."