Calling Balls and Strikes: Ohio Supreme Court Candidate Marilyn Zayas on Education, Opportunity, and Justice

Growing up in a neighborhood known as "Drug City USA," Judge Marilyn Zayas never imagined she would one day run for Ohio’s highest court. In this episode, the OEA member-recommended State Supreme Court candidate shares how the power of education and a belief in opportunity and fairness helped shape her journey, and why judicial independence and the decisions of the Ohio Supreme Court are so important for the future of every public school educator, student, and community in the state. JUDGE ZAYAS' RECORD | Click here to learn more about Judge Marilyn Zayas' background, experience, and the judicial philosophy that drives her service on Ohio's courts. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRO-PUBLIC EDUCATION, PRO-LABOR CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT | OEA members can click here to check out the list of all the OEA-member recommended candidates running for state and federal office. SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email [email protected]. SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms. Click here for some of those links so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here. Featured Public Education Matters guest:  Judge Marilyn Zayas, OEA member-recommended Ohio Supreme Court candidateJudge Marilyn Zayas has served on the First District Court of Appeals since 2016, when she was elected as the first Latina Court of Appeals judge in Hamilton County history. She is one of the most experienced appellate judges serving in Ohio.  Since joining the court, Judge Zayas was appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court’s Chief Justice to sit on the Second, Sixth, Eighth, and Tenth District Courts of Appeal. Judge Zayas was also selected by the Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court to serve by special assignment at the Supreme Court for a criminal case in June 2018, and for a series of complex civil cases for March 13, April 2, and April 22, 2025.  Judge Zayas’ judicial record shows that she faithfully applies the law and our state and federal constitutions equally to all, independent of outside influence and politics.  Zayas earned an “Excellent” rating, the highest rating from the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and the Norman S. Minor Bar Association.  Judge Zayas is the product of hard-working parents who migrated from Puerto Rico and worked in factories and the printing industry.  She overcame numerous obstacles earning a college degree in computer science.  After experiencing the devastation that drugs and crime had on her working-class childhood neighborhood, she found a new home in Ohio in 1988.  Prior to attending law school, she had an esteemed career as an IT Manager at Procter & Gamble, where she managed teams and international projects, with multi-million-dollar budgets. After her election, Judge Zayas created the Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders program, an educational program for high school, undergraduate, and law school students.  The program invites students to the Court of Appeals to interact with judges and attorneys, learn about the law, and inspire them to dream big and to never give up. Judge Zayas has also spearheaded initiatives at the court that provide cost savings and enlarged access for the community, including a user-friendly guide, designed to assist those who do not have an attorney.   Prior to joining the Court of Appeals, Zayas served the community as an attorney for nearly 20 years, litigating in both state and federal courts.  She began her legal career as an intellectual property litigator at Holland & Hart, one of the most prominent law firms in Colorado.  After returning to Ohio, Judge Zayas worked for the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office, and ultimately founded her own boutique law practice where she helped business owners, asylum applicants, and families successfully navigate the complex immigration system.  Judge Zayas earned a reputation as an attorney who provides honest and zealous representation while navigating complex and extremely intricate cases.  She also served as an adjunct professor at her alma mater, the University of Cincinnati College of Law.  Further, recognizing the significance of safe communities, she spent several years partnering with various law enforcement agencies for community initiatives. Judge Marilyn Zayas brought national attention to Ohio in 2024 when her judicial excellence was celebrated in Washington, D.C. upon her selection as the 2024 Judge of the Year by the preeminent National Hispanic Bar Association.  Judge Zayas was also recognized for her judicial excellence and many contributions locally in 2024 by the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners proclaiming October 11, 2024 as Judge Marilyn Zayas day.   Her family includes her three adult children and rescue grand-fur-babies, Sparkle Lou and Kiwi. In this episode: 0:00 - Accountability, Balance, and Ohio’s Future 2:51 - Meet Judge Marilyn Zayas 3:30 - An American Dream Rooted in Education 8:02 - Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders 10:59 - The Teachers Who Changed Her Life 12:50 - Why the Ohio Supreme Court Matters to Educators 13:20 - How Supreme Court Decisions Affect Everyday Ohioans 17:58 - School Funding and Constitutional Questions 19:58 - A Judicial Philosophy Built on Fairness 21:45 - Facts, Evidence, and the Challenges of AI 23:44 - Calling Balls and Strikes, Not Politics 25:52 - Why Voters Should Look Beyond Party Labels 27:14 - Judicial Independence and Public Trust 29:42 - Why This Election Matters for Public Education Connect with OEA: Email [email protected] with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics Like OEA on Facebook Follow OEA on Twitter Follow OEA on Instagram Get the latest news and statements from OEA here Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues  Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch About us: T...