Who is Mathura Sridharan? Indian-origin lawyer named Ohio Solicitor General trolled over 'bindi'

Mathura Sridharan

Indian-origin lawyer Mathura Sridharan has been appointed Ohio’s 12th Solicitor General, Attorney General Dave Yost announced recently. She will now serve as the state’s top appellate attorney, representing Ohio in key legal battles before federal and state appeals courts, including the US Supreme Court.

Sridharan, currently Deputy Solicitor General, also heads Ohio’s Tenth Amendment Centre. In 2023, she argued in the US Supreme Court in Ohio v. EPA, challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s “good neighbour” rule.

AG Yost today named Mathura Sridharan as his pick for Ohio’s 12th solicitor general, the state’s top attorney for appeals in state and federal courts. Details: https://t.co/IloRCZLpXDpic.twitter.com/3uaLuV57rP

— Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (@OhioAG) July 31, 2025

Before joining the Solicitor’s Office, she clerked for Judge Steven J Menashi of the Second Circuit and Judge Deborah A Batts of the Southern District of New York. She earned her JD from New York University School of Law in 2018, after completing a Master’s in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT in 2013. She also holds dual Bachelor's degrees in EECS and Economics from MIT.

Beyond law, Sridharan is trained in Carnatic music and has performed at Chennai sabhas, including during the December 2010 music season. She has been married to Ashwin Suresh since 2015.

However, her appointment triggered a wave of online trolling, with some social media users targeting her for wearing a bindi and questioning why a "non-US" individual was chosen for the post.

Attorney General Dave Yost strongly defended her, stating, “A few commenters have asserted incorrectly that Mathura is not American. She is a United States citizen, married to a US citizen, and the child of naturalised US citizens.” He added, “If her name or her complexion bothers you, the problem is not with her or her appointment.”

Yost praised Sridharan’s legal acumen and noted she came highly recommended by Ohio’s previous Solicitor Generals. He called her brilliant, outspoken, and exceptionally prepared for the role.