Judge Zayas’ heritage fuels passion for justice, student mentorship

Contributed

In the halls of Ohio’s judiciary, Judge Marilyn Zayas stands as a beacon of resilience and fairness.  As the first Latina elected to an Ohio Court of Appeals in 2016, Zayas embodies the American dream forged from humble beginnings.  Her Puerto Rican heritage and challenging upbringing in New York City not only shape her unwavering commitment to judicial integrity but also fuel her passion for mentoring students, urging them to dream big despite obstacles.

Born in a sister neighborhood of Harlem to Puerto Rican migrants who spoke little English, Zayas grew up in a working-class neighborhood ravaged by drugs and crime.  Her father labored in a printing shop, her mother as a seamstress in a garment factory—roles emblematic of the working family hustle that defines many families in America.  Far too often, children from challenging environments are overlooked and underestimated.  As she recalls, a middle school teacher’s dismissive view of her potential sparked a defiant question: “Well, why not?”  This moment crystallized her belief that no one is “lesser than” or “more than”—a philosophy that permeates her judicial decisions.

Puerto Rican heritage often weaves together Indigenous Taíno, Spanish, and African influences, reflecting a rich tapestry of resilience and community values against adversity.  While Judge Zayas’ personal narrative highlights her parents’ migration and the cultural pride of Spanish Harlem, it echoes broader themes of overcoming systemic barriers faced by underserved communities.  Her parents’ divorce at age 17 introduced her to the courtroom, where she witnessed firsthand the power—and potential pitfalls—of the legal system.  This experience transformed her trajectory, leading her from a computer science degree and IT career at Procter & Gamble to law school at the University of Cincinnati.

On the bench, Zayas’ background manifests as unyielding integrity.  She approaches cases with an “engineering brain,” breaking them into flowcharts grounded in facts and law, free from emotional or political sway.  Her record includes serving on multiple appellate districts and even on temporary assignments on the Ohio Supreme Court.  Peers rated her “Excellent” in 2022 at the Cleveland Bar Association for her judicial excellence and impartiality.

“You can trust that I will faithfully apply the law and our constitution equally to all, independent of outside influences and politics,” she has consistently pledged.  This integrity isn’t abstract; it’s rooted in her lived experience of seeking a “fair chance” in a world that can deny it to those from marginalized backgrounds. Zayas said she believes that ultimately, if you do not give up, God will place the people you need onto your path.  Judge Zayas is grateful to the good, honest and hard-working people of Ohio for still believing in the American dream by giving her a fair chance and judging her on her merits.

Equally inspiring is Judge Zayas’ dedication to students, channeling her heritage’s emphasis on community uplift. After her historic election, she launched the Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders program, inviting high school, college and law students to the Court of Appeals.  There, students shadow judges, engage with attorneys, and learn the intricacies of justice.  Honored by ABC’s Good Morning America in 2021 for this work, she aims to show young people, especially from underrepresented groups, that they can “dream big and never give up.”  Her mentorship extends to guiding mentees like Cierra, who came into Zayas’s life as a high school student and is currently earning a law degree at Northwestern Law School, toward fellowships and success.  “My goal as a mentor is to help them become more successful than they would have been otherwise,” Zayas says, reflecting the resolve her roots taught her.

In a time when trust in institutions wavers, Judge Zayas’ story reminds us that true justice comes from those who’ve fought for it.  Her heritage and upbringing don’t just inform her service—they propel her to build a more just Ohio, one fair ruling and one inspired student at a time.  Her integrity and mentorship are not add-ons but the essence of who she is: a judge raised with grit, serving with grace.