Judge Julia L. Dorrian, who sits on the Tenth District Court of Appeals, recently expressed her gratitude for the rare opportunity to temporarily augment the bench of the Ohio Supreme Court. "It is an honor to sit on the Supreme Court, and I appreciate Chief Justice Kennedy and all the justices welcoming me here to serve," Judge Dorrian said in a statement obtained by Court News Ohio. She was called to preside over a case after Justice Jennifer Brunner recused herself, allowing Chief Justice Kennedy to appoint an appellate judge in her place, due to a provision in the Ohio Constitution.
Coming from a family with a strong public service background, including political officeholders and firefighters, Judge Dorrian has always been driven to continue this legacy. Yet, it wasn't until she had lived and volunteered in Santiago, Chile, witnessing lawyers facilitate the return to democracy post-dictatorship, that she decided to definitively pursue law herself. "I saw firsthand the important role lawyers played in protecting human rights and re-establishing Chile’s democratic institutions, including the court system," Judge Dorrian told Court News Ohio.
With a career spanning over two decades in the legal profession, Judge Dorrian boasts a diverse legal resumé that includes seven years as a trial judge before her current 14-year tenure with the Tenth District Court of Appeals. Her experience with the law stretches from courtroom to classroom, where she serves as a faculty member and advisor for the Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College and assists in mentoring up-and-coming legal minds. "The truth is, I learn a lot from the new judges too," as cited by the Court News Ohio, she remarked reflectively on her role, emphasizing her ongoing commitment to education within the judicial system.
Indeed, Judge Dorrian stressed the humanity imbued in each case she presides over—the recognition that her decisions impact real people and extend to touch the broader community of Ohio. "I am ever mindful that the decisions my colleagues and I make as judges significantly impact the lives of not only the parties standing before us, but also many Ohioans today and in the future," she conveyed clearly to Court News Ohio. Her voice lends a measure of solemn understanding to the weight of the bench's duties, reinforcing the gravity with which she approaches her role in the judiciary.
