Before she was a successful attorney, wife, mother, and candidate for a high profile judgeship in Ohio, Sherrie Mikhail Miday was a simple Egyptian girl growing up in this country, learning how to integrate her rich spiritual and cultural heritage with the life of a “typical” American kid.

The seeds of participating in civic life were planted at an early age.  As a first generation American, Sherrie learned not to take for granted the freedoms and protections guaranteed to the citizens of this great country by the rule of law.  Sherrie’s journey of becoming a candidate for judge grew out of this awareness and her family's commitment to work tirelessly, using their God-given talents in service to others. 

Following their devotion to God, her parents emigrated from Cairo, Egypt to the U.S., in the 1970s.  Her father, the Very Reverend Father Mikhail Edward Mikhail, was the 8th ...

Before she was a successful attorney, wife, mother, and candidate for a high profile judgeship in Ohio, Sherrie Mikhail Miday was a simple Egyptian girl growing up in this country, learning how to integrate her rich spiritual and cultural heritage with the life of a “typical” American kid.

The seeds of participating in civic life were planted at an early age.  As a first generation American, Sherrie learned not to take for granted the freedoms and protections guaranteed to the citizens of this great country by the rule of law.  Sherrie’s journey of becoming a candidate for judge grew out of this awareness and her family's commitment to work tirelessly, using their God-given talents in service to others. 

Following their devotion to God, her parents emigrated from Cairo, Egypt to the U.S., in the 1970s.  Her father, the Very Reverend Father Mikhail Edward Mikhail, was the 8th Coptic Orthodox priest sent by the late H.H. Pope Shenouda III to minister to a growing Coptic congregation in the U.S. 

The Coptic Orthodox Church in the U.S. was growing, yet still young, when Abouna Mikhail, started St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in East Cleveland, Ohio.  As with many of the first Coptic Churches in the United States, St. Mark’s first rented space in another church, then bought an existing church, and finally, purchased land and built their own church. 

Because there was only one other priest in the Midwest, Sherrie’s childhood was often spent in the back of a station wagon travelling from city to city.  They travelled to cities such as Youngstown, Toledo, Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Minneapolis.  Like the old fashioned-travelling doctors, her father displayed those virtues of charity, reason, and understanding in the service of others.  This road travelled left a profound impact on Sherrie and her brother, Bishoy:  they learned to serve with love and humility.

Her father’s nearly 40 years of service to the community has been a tremendous inspiration to not only Sherrie and her husband, Ryan, but is also being passed to their three children: 5-year-old Athanasius, 3-year-old Mikhaila, and 6-month-old Helena.  Daddy’s favorite time of the week is taking Athan with Gido on Saturday to Asheya, where Athan serves as an altar boy. Abouna Mikhail could not have done it, however, without the support of Sherrie’s mother, Seham, whose love for her church, community and family are unwavering.  Like countless other Coptic immigrants, Sherrie’s parents believed that education was paramount to their children’s future.  

Both she and her brother attended Catholic high schools and chose to attend John Carroll University (JCU), a Jesuit college, for their undergraduate studies.  The Jesuit tradition of academic excellence and service to others greatly enriched her life and reinforced the values inherent in her Coptic heritage.  JCU helped her further develop her strong character molded within the Jesuit tradition of integrating faith and culture. The search for truth and justice, two core Jesuit values, ultimately led her to law school.

Sherrie graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.  Her legal experience is varied, from being a judicial staff attorney for the Court to which she seeks to be elected, a labor and employment attorney, a domestic violence prosecutor, and currently to a mortgage litigator. Communities need judges that are bright, compassionate, fair and just, and that are committed to public service and civic responsibility.  Her varied legal experience, together with her education, temperament, and character, make her this qualified candidate that every community deserves.

Even with all the demands on her time, she is a dedicated member on the boards of St. Mark’s and the Edna House for Women, a long-term, structured sober living and educational facility in Cleveland, for women seeking recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol. 

Sherrie continues to travel the road of service, which started decades ago in the back of a station wagon. That road, come November 2014, may lead her to an historic destination. If she prevails on Election Day, Sherrie will become the first Coptic American to be elected judge in the history of the United States.

It’s hard to overstate the historical significance of Sherrie becoming the first Copt elected to the bench in the U.S.  The timing of Sherrie’s campaign is no coincidence – there’s a movement among Copts all over the world.  They are witnessing the importance of living, in the words of UK’s General Bishop Angaelos, “in a new spirit of ownership and citizenship.”  H.H. Pope Tawadros II encouraged Copts to vote in the constitutional referendum in Egypt, saying that a vote is “a duty and a responsibility.” Acting with courageous faith, Copts did just that by joining millions in passing the new constitution.

There are many roles in public life but, perhaps, none more significant to Copts than a judge. The struggles against oppression and the lack of due process have been a constant reminder for Copts of the importance of the rule of law.  As a judge, Sherrie will be in the unique position of ensuring minorities are treated fairly and justly.

The meaning of this Coptic movement will be most felt in the inevitable shift in how Copts see themselves.  Copts in Egypt, like Sherrie and those supporting her campaign, are strengthening civic ties to government institutions and also laying the groundwork for future generations to follow in their footsteps.  Young boys and girls will be encouraged by these trail blazers to dream and aspire to even greater heights.