FLINT, Mich. (Court TV) —Judge Robert Ransom ruled Thursday that ABC can interview assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian on camera for its 20/20 newsmagazine. Kevorkian, 72, is serving a 10 to 25 year sentence for second-degree murder and drug delivery.

The interview will be scheduled in the next two weeks — or Corrections Director Bill Martin could find himself facing a jail sentence.

The Michigan Department of Corrections has a history of squabbling with ABC over videotaped interviews with inmates in recent years, according to department spokesman Matthew Davis. Though ABC has been allowed to conduct off-air interviews with prisoners, the network has continued to sue for live camera privileges.

In April 1999, ABC requested on-air interviews with two other inmates in addition to Jack Kevorkian. All three requests were denied because, said Davis, the corrections department does not want to empower prisoners. The result of televised interviews, he said, is increased "fame" among fellow inmates.

"Notoriety in prison is power," said Davis.

ABC first approached the corrections department in order to interview George Crear, a man convicted of raping several middle school students. Crear is currently serving a life sentence and according to Davis has exhibited violent behavior while in prison. And in addition to the fear of increasing Crear's notoriety, Davis said the department has concerns about offending the victims of Crear's sexual assaults.

ABC also requested an interview with Carol Ege, convicted of cutting open a woman's abdomen to eviscerate her boyfriend's unborn child. Davis said Ege was denied a live interview because the department feared publicizing the crime would only cause "unpleasant reactions from the female inmate population," including mothers and grandmothers with "strong and powerful maternal instincts."

And when ABC asked to interview Jack Kevorkian, the director once again refused. Said Davis, prison officials have already gone to extreme lengths to incarcerate the famous doctor, even building an expensive high protection unit for him. Kevorkian "sticks out like a sore thumb," said Davis, because unlike the average inmate, he is highly educated.

"Not all criminals are dumb thugs, but the vast majority of them are," said the spokesman.

Putting Kevorkian on the air could stir the emotions of inmates who have access to televisions, said Davis, who added that the doctor is not exactly the "flavor of the day" among the prison population. Department officials apparently try to keep a low profile for their resident celebrity.

Furthermore, Davis rejects the notion that the ABC deserves more access than the average citizen because it claims to educate the public.

"The first amendment did not create a celestial body endowed with more rights called the media," said Davis. The spokesman believes that education should be left in the classroom, not the courtroom.

Davis insists the Kevorkian interview will not air, noting the Department of Corrections plans to appeal Judge Ransom's ruling. He is confident that the Supreme Court will rule that government agencies, not the media, are entitled to the final say over prison affairs.

—Julie Farkas