The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the 320-month prison sentence against former Grady Memorial Hospital emergency room physician Adam Wayne Lebowitz, according to a story in today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Lebowitz, who is gay and HIV positive, was an Emory medical student when he worked at Grady Memorial. He was arrested, charged and convicted for coercing a minor to engage in sexual acts. He also produced child pornography.
Lebowitz was arrested after an undercover sting operation that included a 15-year old boy who worked with Coweta County law enforcement.
Vandy Beth Glenn returned to work Friday as a legislative editor at the Georgia General Assembly, just days after the a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's ruling that the state violated her constitutional rights when she was fired after informing her employer she was transitioning from male to female.
Greg Nevins, the Lambda Legal attorney representing Glenn, confirmed this week that she reported back to work on Friday, Dec. 9. The 11th Circuit handed down its 3-0 ruling in favor of Glenn on Dec. 6. The federal appeals court ruling upheld U.S. District Judge Richard Story's ruling that Glenn was wrongly fired based on sex discrimination. Oral arguments before the 11th Circuit were held on Dec. 1.
Glenn also confirmed she is back at work.
Three judges sitting on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals today appeared to side with transgender woman Vandy Beth Glenn, who was fired from her job as a legislative editor for the Georgia General Assembly after she informed her boss she was transitioning full-time to a woman.
"We have direct evidence of intentional discrimination," said Judge Bill Pryor.
Richard Sheinis, representing the state, argued that if Glenn was to win this case, transgender people would become a "protected class."
"That's right," Pryor and Judge Rosemary Barkett answered, almost simultaneously.
Pryor told Sheinis if he wanted to change the outcome, he should "go talk to Congress."