Ballotpedia, Marilyn Zayas

Marilyn is originally from New York. She has a bachelor's degree in computer science from City College of New York and a law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. She has 3 adult children and lives in Cincinnati. 

LinkedIn

Marilyn is an attorney. She previously worked as an IT manager for Proctor & Gamble and as an attorney at MZD Law. 

Marilyn Zayas currently serves as a judge for the Ohio 1st District Court of Appeals. She was first elected in 2016 and is serving her 2nd term. She previously ran for judge of the Ohio Supreme Court in 2022 but did not win. 

Ohio Bar, Marilyn Zayas

Candidate website

Supports advancing justice reform initiatives by the current Chief Justice, including establishing a sentencing database and bail reform. 

Plans to look for ways to support and expand the use of specialized dockets, such as the mental health, human trafficking second chance, veterans, drug court, and commercial dockets.

Plans to promote accessibility and accountability through student outreach and community forums.

- Supports advancing justice reform initiatives by the current Chief Justice, including establishing a sentencing database and bail reform. 
- Plans to look for ways to support and expand the use of specialized dockets, such as the mental health, human trafficking second chance, veterans, drug court, and commercial dockets.
- Plans to promote accessibility and accountability through student outreach and community forums.

Judicial Administration

Wants to pass initiatives that make efforts to eliminate bias in the justice system.

- Wants to pass initiatives that make efforts to eliminate bias in the justice system.

Judicial Philosophy

As a state court of appeals judge for 8 years, ensures the law has been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases, exercises the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of fact or law by lower appeals and trial courts, and hears applications for court orders that compel and prohibit certain actions by lower courts and government officials.

As an attorney at MZD Law for 15 years, researched, drafted, and filed legal documents and provided defense and counsel to clients, specializing in U.S. Immigration and Nationalization law.

- As a state court of appeals judge for 8 years, ensures the law has been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases, exercises the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of fact or law by lower appeals and trial courts, and hears applications for court orders that compel and prohibit certain actions by lower courts and government officials.
- As an attorney at MZD Law for 15 years, researched, drafted, and filed legal documents and provided defense and counsel to clients, specializing in U.S. Immigration and Nationalization law.

Legal Experience

As of August 26, 2024, Marilyn Zayas’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Established the Educating Tomorrow's Leaders program to provide students the opportunity to learn about the court system and interact with judges and lawyers.

- Established the Educating Tomorrow's Leaders program to provide students the opportunity to learn about the court system and interact with judges and lawyers.

Community Involvement

Facebook

Marilyn Zayas

Stacy is originally from Cincinnati. She has a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University and a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Stacy currently works as an assistant prosecutor at the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. She previously worked as a law clerk for Judge Thomas Crush and Magistrate Bernat.

Stacy Lefton's campaign for Court of Appeals Division 1 Judge is her first run for public office.

As of August 26, 2024, Stacy Lefton’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As an assistant team leader in the felony criminal division, has handled serious criminal cases.

As an assistant team leader in the felony criminal division, handles serious criminal cases including murder and child abuse cases.

- As an assistant team leader in the felony criminal division, handles serious criminal cases including murder and child abuse cases.

Serves as Amberly Village Mayor’s Court Prosecutor.

Is "active in community events and attends many of the committee meetings in her community."

- Serves as Amberly Village Mayor’s Court Prosecutor.
- Is "active in community events and attends many of the committee meetings in her community."

Instagram

Stacy Lefton

- Each Ohio district has 4 to 12 Court of Appeals judges, depending on case volume.
- Any three judges from a district form a court to review appeals from lower courts, checking for legal errors. The 10th district (Franklin County) also reviews cases from the Ohio Court of Claims, which handles civil suits against the state.
- This court is the only appellate court before the Ohio Supreme Court and can issue orders like writs of habeas corpus, which forces a jail to justify holding someone, or writs of mandamus, which directs a government official to perform a mandatory duty.
- Judges serve a 6-year term, are elected in partisan elections, and earn a salary of $178,100.
- To qualify, judges must have been practicing law in Ohio for at least one year and have six years of experience as a lawyer or judge in any U.S. court. 