Federal judge strikes down Ohio law blocking trans people from amending their birth certificates Court finds Ohio's policy, which was made more restrictive in 2016, "does not pass constitutional muster" 11.2kSHARES The Joseph P. Kinneary Courthouse in Columbus, Ohio – Photo: Ɱ, via Wikimedia. A federal judge has struck down the state of Ohio’s policy prohibiting transgender residents from amending their birth certificates to reflect their correct gender identity. U.S. District Judge Michael Watson, of the Southern District of Ohio’s Eastern Division, ruled that the policy barring transgender people from correcting the gender marker on their birth certificates — which was introduced in 2016 by the Department of Health under then-Gov. John Kasich (R) — was unconstitutional.