Indian-Origin Lawyer Mathura Sridharan Appointed Ohio's 12th Solicitor General
Mathura Sridharan, an Indian-origin attorney, has been named Ohio's 12th Solicitor General, marking a significant milestone in her legal career. Ohio's Attorney General, Dave Yost, made the announcement, affirming that Sridharan will now serve as the state’s chief appellate lawyer, representing Ohio in pivotal legal cases before both state and federal appeals courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
Who is Mathura Sridharan?
Currently, Mathura Sridharan holds the position of Deputy Solicitor General in Ohio’s Office of the Solicitor General, and she also oversees the Tenth Amendment Center in Ohio. In 2023, she had the opportunity to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Ohio v. EPA, challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s “good neighbor” rule.
Sridharan’s legal experience also includes clerking for Judge Steven J. Menashi of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge Deborah A. Batts of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She earned her Juris Doctor (JD) from New York University School of Law in 2018 and holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, which she completed in 2013. Sridharan also holds dual Bachelor's degrees from MIT in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science and Economics (2012).
Aside from her academic and legal accomplishments, Sridharan is also a trained Carnatic musician, having performed in various sabhas, including Chennai's December music season in 2010. She has been married to Ashwin Suresh since 2015.
Backlash and Defense
Despite her impressive qualifications, Sridharan’s appointment has sparked backlash online, with some critics questioning her suitability for the role based on her Indian heritage and the presence of a “bindi” on her forehead. Responding to these criticisms, Attorney General Dave Yost issued a robust defense, clarifying that Sridharan is a U.S. citizen, married to a U.S. citizen, and the child of naturalized U.S. citizens. He emphasized that any issue with her name or appearance was not related to her or her appointment but rather to the views of the critics. Yost also praised Sridharan’s exceptional legal capabilities, particularly noting her successful argument before the U.S. Supreme Court and the high recommendations she received from previous Solicitor Generals in Ohio.
