Though no stranger to the Supreme Court of Ohio, Judge William R. Zimmerman of the Third District Court of Appeals doesn’t take for granted the chance to return as an assigned judge.

“For any judge, serving on the Supreme Court is the highest level of service to our judiciary,” explained Judge Zimmerman, who first sat on the Supreme Court for oral arguments in March 2019. “It is an honor.”

During oral arguments on Aug. 5, Judge Zimmerman heard Dornette v. Green Building Consulting, Case No. 2025-1637, which concerned the payment of attorney fees when there is a breach of a settlement. Judge Zimmerman sat for Justice R. Patrick DeWine, who recused himself. The Ohio Constitution allows the chief justice to appoint an appellate judge to hear a case when there is a recusal.

Love of Law Began in Childhood
Judge Zimmerman’s interest in pursuing law was ignited in Chicago, where he attended a campaign rally by then-presidential candidate John F. Kennedy as a 7-year-old. Captivated by the future president, Judge Zimmerman wondered what it would take to one day blaze a campaign trail of his own.

“I asked Dad how I could get elected,” Judge Zimmerman recalled. “He said to run for office, you should become a lawyer.”

And that's exactly what Judge Zimmerman did. His journey to the bench began at Ohio Northern University, where he earned both his bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor. After graduating law school, he actively practiced law in Sidney for more than 20 years and was the director of the Shelby County Public Defender's Office from 1982 to 2005. He began his judicial career by serving as the Shelby County Probate and Juvenile Court judge from 2009 to 2017 before joining the Third District Court of Appeals in February 2017.

In addition to reviewing Third District cases, Judge Zimmerman leverages his extensive judicial experience in his current role to help train newly elected judges for the Supreme Court Judicial College. The work may not be as illustrious as that of commander in chief, but Judge Zimmerman nonetheless feels his 18-plus years on the bench would make his childhood self proud: “My dream as a 7-year-old has come true!”