{ "id": "epr8em1jxq", "slug": "michael-j-hendershot", "title": "Michael J. Hendershot", "updated": "2026-09-29", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law" }, { "id": "society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3", "label": "Article III judges (district and appellate)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges", "label": "United States district court judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-h", "label": "Surnames H", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-h" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-h", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Surnames H", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-h", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges", "label": "United States district court judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-h", "label": "Surnames H", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-h" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Michael Jason Hendershot (born 1974) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the Northern District of Ohio since 2026, appointed by President Donald Trump.", "snippet": "Michael Jason Hendershot (born 1974) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the Northern District of Ohio since 2026, appointed by President Donald Trump.", "node": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-h", "markdown": "# Michael J. Hendershot\n\nMichael Jason Hendershot (born 1974) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio since 2026.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) He was appointed to the court by President Donald J. Trump.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) He began service on the court in [Cleveland](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland) in September 2026, filling the seat of Judge Patricia A. Gaughan, who assumed senior status in October 2023.[2](https://www.ohnd.uscourts.gov/news/new-district-judge-michael-j-hendershot)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) |\n| Appointed by | Donald J. Trump[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) |\n| Confirmed | June 24, 2026 (Senate voted 50 to 44)[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1190847) |\n| Born | 1974 in Columbus, Ohio[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) |\n| Education | B.A., Ohio Wesleyan University, 1997; J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 2001[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nHendershot was born in 1974 in [Columbus, Ohio](https://www.edgepedia.org/columbus-ohio).[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) He graduated summa cum laude with a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) from [Ohio Wesleyan University](https://www.edgepedia.org/ohio-wesleyan-university) in 1997 and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2001, where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) • [2](https://www.ohnd.uscourts.gov/news/new-district-judge-michael-j-hendershot)\n\n## Legal career\n\nAfter law school, Hendershot clerked for Judge Jerry E. Smith of the [United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-court-of-appeals-for-the-fifth-circuit) from 2001 to 2002.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) He then practiced law in [Phoenix, Arizona](https://www.edgepedia.org/phoenix-arizona), from 2002 to 2005.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) From 2005 to 2006, he clerked for Justice Terrence O'Donnell of the [Supreme Court of Ohio](https://www.edgepedia.org/supreme-court-of-ohio).[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136)\n\nHendershot returned to Columbus, Ohio, where he was in private practice from 2006 to 2011, including with the Vorys law firm, where he practiced appellate and general litigation.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) • [2](https://www.ohnd.uscourts.gov/news/new-district-judge-michael-j-hendershot) In 2011, he joined the Ohio Attorney General's Office, where he served as chief deputy solicitor general until 2026.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) In that role, his practice focused on matters before the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the [Supreme Court of the United States](https://www.edgepedia.org/supreme-court-of-the-united-states).[2](https://www.ohnd.uscourts.gov/news/new-district-judge-michael-j-hendershot) From 2019 to 2022, he was an adjunct professor of appellate advocacy at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) He is a past chair of the Ohio State Bar Association Appellate Practice Committee and served on the board that certifies lawyers as appellate specialists.[2](https://www.ohnd.uscourts.gov/news/new-district-judge-michael-j-hendershot)\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident Donald J. Trump nominated Hendershot to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on April 14, 2026.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) The Senate confirmed his nomination on June 24, 2026, by a vote of 50 to 44.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1190847) He received his commission on July 9, 2026.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136) Chief Judge Sara Lioi announced that Hendershot began his service on the court in Cleveland on September 8, 2026.[2](https://www.ohnd.uscourts.gov/news/new-district-judge-michael-j-hendershot)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Michael Jason Hendershot](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13762136)\n2. [New District Judge Michael J. Hendershot](https://www.ohnd.uscourts.gov/news/new-district-judge-michael-j-hendershot)\n3. [Senate Roll Call Vote, June 24, 2026](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1190847)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames H*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-j-hendershot", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-j-hendershot.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Michael J. Hendershot\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-j-hendershot. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Michael J. Hendershot](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-j-hendershot)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-j-hendershot](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-j-hendershot). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Michael J. Hendershot\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-j-hendershot. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Michael Jason Hendershot is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the Northern District of Ohio since 2026, appointed by President Donald Trump." }