Marilyn Zayas, a Democrat on the Ohio First District Court of Appeals since 2016, is running for Ohio Supreme Court Justice in the Nov. 3 general election. Republican Daniel R. Hawkins is also in the race.

Asked why she is seeking the seat, Zayas said in our candidate questionnaire: "I believe everyone deserves courts they can trust to follow the Constitution, the law and the facts, not politics." She added that she has "accepted zero corporate contributions from energy, banking or insurance interests because judicial independence matters."

Candidate information

Party: Zayas identified as a Democrat but added in our questionnaire: "Judicial office, however, requires independence from political parties. A judge's responsibility is not to a party, candidate or political interest. It is to the Constitution, the law and the facts."

Education: "J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law, 1997. B.S. in Computer Science, City College of the City University of New York (CUNY), 1987," Zayas said in our questionnaire.

Family: Zayas said in our questionnaire: "My parents came to the United States from Puerto Rico. My mother had only a seventh-grade education and worked as a factory seamstress. After leaving a difficult marriage, she raised three children on a factory salary." She also said: "I am also a mother of three adult children. My family has shaped my understanding of service, responsibility, resilience and the importance of safe communities and strong families."

Experience and public service

Zayas described her career path in our questionnaire: "I worked as an IT Manager at Procter & Gamble, where I solved complex problems. Used my savings to attend law school, then built a legal career focused on serving people and solving problems."

She said she has "nearly 20 years of experience as an attorney, representing individuals, families and businesses in state and federal matters, including criminal, family, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, custody, adoption and business cases."

On her judicial record, Zayas said: "For nearly a decade, I have performed the same fundamental appellate work as the Ohio Supreme Court, deciding more than 2,000 appeals on Ohio's First District Court of Appeals." She added that "in 2025, the Chief Justice, who is from a different political party, selected me three times within 40 days to sit by special assignment on the Ohio Supreme Court to replace a recused justice."

In 2016, Zayas became the first person of Latino heritage elected to a Court of Appeals in Ohio, according to the First District Court of Appeals. She also founded the Educating Tomorrow's Leaders program. Zayas said in our questionnaire that "more than 2,000 high school, undergraduate and law school students across Ohio have participated."

The National Hispanic Bar Association selected her as the 2024 Judge of the Year, according to the First District Court of Appeals.

On the issues

Judicial endorsements of political candidates: The Ohio Supreme Court ruled 5-1 that judges may make political endorsements. Zayas said in our questionnaire: "I disagree with the decision because judicial independence is not only about being impartial; it is also about maintaining public confidence in that impartiality." She added: "I will never endorse a political candidate. I believe judges should leave politics at the courthouse door."

Precedent: Zayas said in our questionnaire: "Stability in the law is essential. Precedent should carry substantial weight because people, courts, businesses and government rely on established law when making decisions. The Supreme Court should overrule its prior decisions only when there is a compelling reason to do so." She added: "That does not mean precedent can never change. Courts must be willing to correct serious errors and address circumstances that genuinely require a change in the law. But overruling precedent should be the exception, not the rule."

Specialized courts: Zayas said: "The Supreme Court possesses policy and administrative authority that courts of appeals do not, including oversight of specialized dockets that actively reduce crime. I strongly support the appropriate expansion of Veterans, Mental Health, and Drug Courts to foster safer communities."

Zayas has received endorsements from the AFL-CIO, Ohio Democrats, the Hamilton County Democratic Party, the Ohio Organizing Campaign and Delaware County Democrats, among others, according to BallotReady. The general election is Nov. 3.