On July 31, 2025, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost formally selected Mathura J. Sridharan to become the state’s 12th Solicitor General. The appointment takes effect upon the departure of her predecessor, T. Elliot Gaiser, who is transitioning to the U.S. Justice Department in early August. Sridharan, an Ohio native, previously served as Deputy Solicitor General since 2021 and has led the state’s Tenth Amendment Center, a legal unit focused on protecting state sovereignty and challenging federal authority where deemed overreaching.
Sridharan’s qualifications reflect a rare blend of academic and professional rigor. She holds bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering, computer science, and economics, as well as a master’s in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT. She earned her J.D. from NYU School of Law in 2018. Her legal career includes prestigious clerkships with Judge Steven J. Menashi on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge Deborah A. Batts in the Southern District of New York. Sridharan has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, most notably in Ohio v. EPA in 2024, and has played key roles in litigation involving major state policies.
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Her appointment marks a historic milestone. Sridharan is one of the first Indian-origin women in the United States to be named Solicitor General of a state, a breakthrough that reflects progress in increasing diversity at the highest levels of the legal profession. However, her ascent has also been met with resistance. Almost immediately after her appointment was made public, Sridharan became the target of racial and cultural harassment. Online commentators fixated on her appearance, specifically her wearing of a traditional bindi, using it as a focal point for xenophobic criticism and questioning her suitability for public office.
Attorney General Yost responded strongly to the backlash. In a public statement, he defended Sridharan’s credentials and cultural identity, saying, “If her name or complexion bothers you… that reflects on you—not her competence.” His remarks were echoed by civil rights organizations and members of the legal community, who praised Sridharan for her professionalism and denounced the attacks as emblematic of the ongoing challenges faced by minorities in public service.
As Solicitor General, Sridharan will oversee all major appellate litigation involving the state, representing Ohio in the U.S. Supreme Court, federal appellate courts, and the Ohio Supreme Court. Her role involves defending Ohio’s legal and constitutional positions in some of the most high-stakes legal battles of the day. In addition to her leadership of the Tenth Amendment Center, she is expected to play a key role in cases involving administrative law, environmental regulation, and state-federal legal boundaries.
Sridharan’s appointment is a testament to the growing—albeit slow—representation of women and minorities in senior legal roles. But it also underscores how these advancements are often accompanied by cultural friction. Legal scholars and social commentators point out that women of color, especially those who visibly express their cultural identity, frequently encounter skepticism, discrimination, and additional scrutiny compared to their white, male counterparts.
Despite the challenges, Sridharan has remained focused on the responsibilities ahead. In a statement following her appointment, she said, “It is an honor and a privilege to stand up for the rights and freedoms of my fellow Ohioans. I am profoundly grateful for the trust Attorney General Yost has placed in me.” Yost described her as “a relentless defender of Ohioans, a champion of federalism,” signaling strong support for her leadership from within the administration.
Her journey reflects a broader tension in American public life—between a society striving to become more inclusive and the resistance that such change can provoke. The reaction to her appointment reveals how symbolic milestones can simultaneously serve as flashpoints for deeper societal debates about race, identity, and who belongs in positions of authority.
As she assumes her new role in August 2025, Sridharan is poised to influence Ohio’s legal direction on a host of major issues, while also standing as a visible example of the complex interplay between personal identity and public service. Her appointment not only breaks new ground—it also highlights the enduring need for institutions to support diversity not just in words, but in action and culture.
