Judge Marilyn Zayas was born in Harlem and grew up in tough New York neighborhoods. Her dad worked in a printing shop, and her mom worked as a seamstress in a garment factory. Judge Zayas overcame numerous childhood obstacles through hard work, dedication, and persistence.

She earned a college degree in computer science, and made Cincinnati her home when Procter & Gamble hired her as an IT Manager. In 1994, she left P & G to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer. She fulfilled that dream when she graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1997.

Prior to joining the Court of Appeals, she served the community as an attorney for nearly 20 years. Judge Zayas has worked in a large law firm (Holland & Hart) and for Hamilton County. She has litigated in both state and federal courts, and has run her own law practice. She represented clients in the legal areas of Intellectual Property

Litigation, Labor & Employment law, Delinquency, Criminal Law, Custody, and Adoptions. She also helped businesses, investors, and individuals navigate the complex immigration system.

Hamilton County voters elected Judge Zayas to the Court of Appeals in 2016. She is the first Latina elected to an Ohio Court of Appeals.