Sixth District Court of Appeals Judge Gene A. Zmuda served as a visiting judge on the Ohio Supreme Court today and heard arguments in a case involving whether the drug manufacturing and dealing discovered by police was a pattern of corrupt activity.

Judge Zmuda sat in for Justice Judith L. French, who recused herself from State of Ohio v. Alvin C. Dent Jr., Case no. 2019-0651, and State of Ohio v. William L. Walker Jr., Case no. 2019-0654.

According to the Ohio Constitution, in the event of a recusal by a justice the chief justice can select any of the 69 sitting Ohio appellate court judges to sit temporarily on the Supreme Court.

“It’s an honor to be asked to sit as a visiting judge for the Supreme Court,“ Judge Zmuda said. “I’m humbled by the chief’s selection of me. As I sat in the Courtroom, I couldn’t help but reflect on the grandeur and the august Courtroom itself. To me, it perfectly captures the import of the work done in that Courtroom.”

Judge Zmuda has served on the appellate bench since 2018. Previously, he served as a trial judge in Toledo Municipal Court and as a Lucas County common pleas judge. He also practiced law for 18 years before becoming a judge.

Judge Zmuda received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo and his law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law.

The Sixth District Court of Appeals serves eight counties in northwest Ohio and hears cases from county, municipal, and common pleas courts, as well as original actions in habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, procedendo, and quo warranto.