Marilyn Zayas is an American jurist who currently serves as a judge on the Ohio First District Court of Appeals. She is notable for being the first Hispanic judge elected to an appeals court in Ohio.
Early Life and Education
Marilyn Zayas was born in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of eight, settling in New York City. She later moved to Ohio.Zayas pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from Cornell University. After a career in engineering, she decided to pursue law. She subsequently earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Career
Prior to her legal career, Zayas worked as a chemical engineer for Procter & Gamble, where she held various roles in product development and management.After obtaining her law degree, Zayas established a legal practice focusing on civil litigation, including personal injury, product liability, and medical malpractice cases. She represented both plaintiffs and defendants, gaining experience in various aspects of trial advocacy.
In November 2016, Zayas was elected to the Ohio First District Court of Appeals, making history as the first Hispanic judge to serve on an Ohio appellate court. She was re-elected for a second term in November 2022. As an appellate judge, she reviews cases from trial courts within the First District (Hamilton County) to determine if legal errors occurred during proceedings.