FLORIDA TO EXTRADITE KILLER TO CALIFORNIA.

Byline: Yvette Cabrera Daily News Staff Writer

The mother of a woman who officials say was murdered by convicted killer Glen Rogers cried with relief Friday when she heard that the Florida Supreme Court cleared the way for his extradition to California and a trial on the charge.

``I'm so glad,'' said Jan Baxter, in a phone interview from Jackson, Calif. ``We've fought so hard to get him. I'm ready for him.''

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday denied Rogers' appeal to block his extradition to California, a decision his public defender said he will most likely appeal.

Rogers, a former Van Nuys resident on Florida's Death Row for the stabbing death of a Florida woman, is charged with strangling 31-year-old Sandra Gallagher in Van Nuys.

Under an agreement between the Florida and California governors' offices, Rogers was to be extradited to California to stand trial for Gallagher's murder. He appealed the decision on the grounds that it would disrupt his appeals case under way on his Florida conviction, said Tallahassee public defender Glen Gifford.

``(Rogers) wanted to remain in Florida to help his attorney in the capital appeals case, to have access to Florida research materials and so that he could be available to his lawyer,'' said Gifford, who has 15 days to file for a new hearing.

Thursday's decision came as no surprise to Florida Assistant Attorney General Carol Dittmar who explained that federal statutes governing extraditions are limited in interpretation.

``As long as the documents are in order and he is the person California is seeking, as long as that is established, that's all the court can review in extradition proceedings,'' said Dittmar, from Tampa.

If the motion for the new hearing is denied, the court will issue a mandate that would give the green light for Rogers' extradition. Dittmar predicted the courts would deny any motion for a new hearing.