Transgender Ohio Woman Seeks to Seal Name-Change Court Records

Transgender people who legally change their name should have the option in Ohio to have the corresponding court records hidden from public view if they generally fear for their safety, an attorney told a state appeals court on Thursday.

Generalized fear about the way some parts of society act toward transgender people should be enough to seal a record, Kristopher Immel of Roderick Linton Belfance LLP told a panel at the Akron-based Ninth District. Detailing specific threats an individual faces isn’t necessary, he explained.

Immel compared having a name-change record sealed to defendants in criminal cases who are sometimes allowed ...