Ohio’s First Openly Lesbian Judge Told to Stay Out of LGBT Cases

Out lesbian judge Mary Wiseman has been attacked by a fellow judge for being a lesbian. Wiseman became the state’s first openly gay judge when Ohio’s Governor Ted Strickland appointed her Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge four months ago.

Montgomery County Area Court Judge James D. Piergies publicly stated that he believes it would be ethically problematic for Wiseman to rule on gay rights issues. Piergies made these statements as he has announced his decision to run against Wiseman in the Democratic primary. It is rare that a governor’s judicial appointee is challenged by a member of the same party.

Wiseman said that judges must be impartial in applying the law, and that her sexual orientation will play no role in her consideration of cases. “I must take strong exception to someone saying that because I’m gay that I shouldn’t preside over cases that involve gay or lesbian issues,” she said.