Page 34 - April2019_BarJournal

BarJournal WOMEN IN LAW

JULY/AUGUST 2015
feaTure Cleveland’s legal “power Couples”

Models of Mutual Allyship

BY KAMI D. BRAuER

n the New York Times article, “The Judge Brendan Sheehan, a male “ally,” for the District of Massachusetts (pictured below,
Man Behind the High Court Nominee”, appreciates the importance of gender parity in along with her husband Arthur Segel). Thinking
published June 17, 1993, Martin D. the legal profession: “With a successful wife and back on their time together during law school,
Ginsburg, the now late husband of Ruth two daughters about to enter the workforce, I Deborah “is still a little rueful about Dan’s having
IBader Ginsburg, stated: “I have been recognize what an asset women are in the legal graduated law school with honors because of her
supportive of my wife since the beginning of profession. For all new attorneys, men and women, influence on his study habits,” while she, “did not
time, and she has been supportive of me. It’s I always try to engage them in the trial process graduate with honors because of Dan’s influence
not sacrifice; it’s family.” Three of Cleveland’s as much as possible and provide feedback so they on her study habits”.
own legal “power couples” — Judges Brendan become better lawyers. My door is always open Deborah practiced with Hahn Loeser & Parks
& Michelle Sheehan, Judge Dan A. Polster & and I mentor over a dozen students and new LLP, becoming the first female partner in the
Deborah Coleman, and David A. Young & lawyers each year.” history of the firm in 1983. In fact, Deborah
Marilena DiSilvio — reflect Mr. Ginsburg’s When asked whether there was ever a time was elected to the partnership a few weeks after
sentiment. This year, one theme of the Women that they “competed”, either directly or indirectly, returning from her first maternity leave. Judge
in Law Section is the importance of male “allies” with each other, Her Honor offered some sage Polster notes, “Deborah often had to work long
in promoting gender fairness for women in the advice: “Never take a law school class together! hours and weekends, and had a fair amount of
legal profession. The couples featured below Brendan received the only ‘A’ in trial advocacy travel. As a prosecutor I had much more control
demonstrate how each are an ally for the other, with Magistrate Judge Streepy and doesn’t let over my work, and I had very little travel. As a
furthering gender parity through example. anyone forget it!” result, I was the one who could almost always
When asked about how they divide up the more be home for dinner and in the evenings with
Judges Brendan & Michelle Sheehan mundane life responsibilities, the Sheehans prefer our children.” He, however, “made sure our
The Sheehans are the judicial dynamic duo. Judge the “first come, first served philosophy — although children understood that their mother had a
Brendan Sheehan is a Cuyahoga County Common Michelle has figured out how to never find the start very important job which often required her
Pleas judge, while Judge Michelle Sheehan was button on the lawn mower and Brendan prefers to work long hours.” Now, Deborah runs her
recently elected to the Eighth District Court of not to know how to work the washing machine.” own practice, which she started five years ago,
Appeals. Throughout their legal careers, they have providing mediation and arbitration services,
been a constant support for each other: “For us, Judge Dan A. Polster & Deborah Coleman as well as providing guidance and advocacy on
there are a million memories of supporting each Although both attended the same undergraduate matters of professional legal ethics.
other’s legal career, especially when Brendan was school with the same major, U.S. District Judge for I asked each of the males to describe how he has
a young prosecutor, just beginning his career and the Northern District of Ohio Dan Polster and his encouraged gender fairness either professionally
Michelle was a new associate at a large firm. If one wife Deborah did not meet until their first week in or personally. During his 22 years as a federal
person had to work late or was in trial, the other law school at Harvard Law School at a party given prosecutor, Judge Polster “always made sure to
handled whatever needed to be done at home.” by a mutual friend, Patti B. Saris, now Chief Judge treat my female colleagues as equals.” Throughout

Judge dan a. polster &
Judges Brendan & deborah Coleman david a. young &
Michelle sheehan Photo by Phil Straus Marilena disilvio

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