A jury awarded a former magistrate more than $1.1 million on Friday, six years after she sued a Butler County judge for firing her because she is Jewish and requesting time off to celebrate the high holy days.
Kimberly Edelstein worked as a magistrate for Butler County Court of Common Pleas Judge Greg Stephens for a few months in 2016, until she asked to use eight days of vacation time to celebrate the Jewish holidays.
He fired her a few days later.
“I’m very grateful to God and for all of the people who supported me,” Edelstein said.
“I hope this vindicates my reputation.
I lost my career.”