Judge David Leland has made an impact in the world of law and politics for over 50 years in many different capacities. He currently serves as a judge on the Tenth District Court of Appeals – a position he’s held since 2023.

Most recently, he had the opportunity to hear oral arguments at the Supreme Court of Ohio, sitting for Justice Jennifer Brunner on Columbus Bar Association v. Brian Matthew Cable, Case No. 2025-0205. The Ohio Constitution gives the chief justice authority to assign an appellate judge to hear a Supreme Court case when a justice recuses.

Judge Leland took a unique path to the bench, holding prior positions not only in law and politics. He attributes the ability to have a diverse career to the power of a law degree.

“It opens so many different avenues to a person,” said Judge Leland. “The flexibility that the law degree gives you allows you to effectuate community change in many different ways.”

Law Was an Early Interest
Judge Leland discovered his passion for the law at an early age.

“To be honest, my father always expected that I was going to go to law school,” said Judge Leland. “It was pretty much baked into my upbringing since I was a little boy, and it was something that I wanted to do, too.”

He first began his political career as a teenager by working on a 1968 presidential campaign. Soon after, he was elected vice chairman of a political party in Franklin County at the age of 18.

After graduating from Ohio State University, Judge Leland went on to earn his juris doctorate from Capital University in 1978. In 1983, at the age of 29, Judge Leland was elected to the Ohio General Assembly. He was named the outstanding freshman representative out of a freshman class of nearly 40.

He would later serve four terms as chair of a statewide political party beginning in 1995. In 2015, Judge Leland returned to the Ohio House of Representatives for eight years, serving as ranking member of the Criminal Justice Committee.

In addition to his political career, Judge Leland built a name for himself in the legal sphere, being a named partner at a major Columbus based law firm. In 2022, he was elected to the Tenth District Court of Appeals.

Principles Are Essential To Defend
The defense of the rule of law is important to Judge Leland.

“Now, more than ever, it is clear that we have a responsibility to preserve and protect the rule of law in our society and to provide justice,” Judge Leland said.

In his mind, every generation has a responsibility to protect those principles.

“Democracy, justice, the rule of law — these are all rights that sometimes I think we take for granted.
Every generation has a responsibility to stand up and be counted when it comes to the defense of
those principles,” Judge Leland added. “I am honored to be entrusted with this responsibility by the people of Franklin County, and I pledge my fealty to these principles that have defined our state and nation.”

Outside of practicing law, Judge Leland is an avid baseball fan, having served 17 years on the board of trustees of the Columbus Clippers baseball team.

He also spends his time cycling, golfing, and beaming with pride about his son and daughter.