Judge to decide in lawsuit over inmates with HIV

Last month, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson heard arguments made during the month-long trial challenging Alabama's decades-old policy of mostly separating HIV-positive inmates from other prisoners.

Currently, Alabama and South Carolina are then only states that segregate HIV-positive prisoners.

ACLU lawyer Margaret Winter was the lead attorney representing the inmates. She said based on what Thompson told attorneys, she expects the judge to issue an opinion soon.

She said she believes attorneys for the inmates "proved there is no need to segregate HIV inmates to prevent transmission of HIV."

The lawsuit accused the state of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Winter said in her opening statement during the trial that the policy keeps HIV-positive inmates from participating in some programs to help in their rehabilitation.

But the attorney for the state at the trial, Bill Lunsford, said the only thing the HIV-positive inmates are prohibited from doing is working in the prison kitchen. Winter, however, said the HIV-positive inmates often can't get the same work-release jobs as other inmates, particularly food service jobs.