Democrat
Marilyn Zayas
Background and Bio
Marilyn Zayas grew up in East Harlem, New York City, and earned a Bachelor’s in computer science from City College of the City University of New York. Following college, she moved to Ohio and began her career as an IT manager at Procter & Gamble. Zayas later earned her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. As an attorney, she practiced in both the private and public sectors before building her own firm. Zayas has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati and was elected to Ohio's First District Court of Appeals, where she currently serves. She lives in Cincinnati with her two adopted rescue dogs, Thor and Sparkle Lou, and has three adult children.
Policy Issue Summaries
- Judicial Philosophy and Interpretive Approach: In campaign materials, Zayas states that her judicial philosophy is focused on applying the law and Constitution faithfully and equally, independent of outside influence or partisan pressure. She has described her own process of making judicial decisions as starting from the research rather than from a preferred result. Campaign materials and statements explicitly highlight her approach to judicial independence.
- Criminal Justice and Public Safety: Zayas has proposed a statewide, publicly accessible sentencing database that would let people compare sentences for similar offenses across counties. Her campaign has framed the purpose of the tool as a way to reduce bias in the system. She has called for expanding specialized dockets, such as those specializing in mental health, addiction, and reentry, which she credits with reducing repeat offenses.
Endorsements
- EMILY's List
- Ohio AFL-CIO
- Ohio Citizen Action
- Ohio Education Association
- Ohio Federation of Teachers
- United Auto Workers (UAW)
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio
- Service Employees International Union 1199 (SEIU 1199)
- The Matriots
Background and Bio
Marilyn Zayas grew up in East Harlem, New York City, and earned a Bachelor’s in computer science from City College of the City University of New York. Following college, she moved to Ohio and began her career as an IT manager at Procter & Gamble. Zayas later earned her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. As an attorney, she practiced in both the private and public sectors before building her own firm. Zayas has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati and was elected to Ohio's First District Court of Appeals, where she currently serves. She lives in Cincinnati with her two adopted rescue dogs, Thor and Sparkle Lou, and has three adult children.
Policy Issue Summaries
- Judicial Philosophy and Interpretive Approach: In campaign materials, Zayas states that her judicial philosophy is focused on applying the law and Constitution faithfully and equally, independent of outside influence or partisan pressure. She has described her own process of making judicial decisions as starting from the research rather than from a preferred result. Campaign materials and statements explicitly highlight her approach to judicial independence.
- Criminal Justice and Public Safety: Zayas has proposed a statewide, publicly accessible sentencing database that would let people compare sentences for similar offenses across counties. Her campaign has framed the purpose of the tool as a way to reduce bias in the system. She has called for expanding specialized dockets, such as those specializing in mental health, addiction, and reentry, which she credits with reducing repeat offenses.
Endorsements
- EMILY's List
- Ohio AFL-CIO
- Ohio Citizen Action
- Ohio Education Association
- Ohio Federation of Teachers
- United Auto Workers (UAW)
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio
- Service Employees International Union 1199 (SEIU 1199)
- The Matriots
Last Updated:2026-09-25
