SIDNEY — A Shelby County judge was honored by the Shelby County Bar Association during its annual dinner held on March 3, 2016.
Probate Judge William R. Zimmerman was presented the Outstanding Career Service Award.
Zimmerman was honored for his continued and exemplary service to the community and his profession. The award was presented by local attorney Rich Wallace, chair of the Professional Relations Committee of the Bar Association.
Zimmerman has been an active member of the local Bar Association for over thirty years. As a former Shelby County Public Defender, he was involved in some of the most noteworthy and controversial criminal cases in the last 25 years. He was elected as Shelby County Juvenile/Probate Judge in 2008, and is currently in that position. Zimmerman is a candidate for a position on the Third District Court of Appeals.
Zimmerman was honored for his contributions to the community and to the Bar. With respect to community involvement, his leadership as former President of the Holy Angels School Board, the Lehman High School Board, the Holy Angels Parish Council, the Shelby County Bar Association and the Sidney Optimist Club was noted. He has been involved in a number of other charitable activities as well. Judge Zimmerman has been well-known as Lehman High School’s former football offensive coordinator for eighteen years.
His service to his profession has been exemplary. During his seven-year term as Juvenile and Probate Judge, he has provided significant assistance to other probate judges across the state. Zimmerman developed compliance sheets that were recognized by the Ohio Supreme Court with an Award of Excellence in 2012. He developed and formed an impact group for troubled youth in the area. Zimmerman is currently on the faculty with the Ohio Supreme Court for new judges’ training.
“We could not think of a better candidate for this award than Judge Zimmerman,” Wallace said. “His professional conduct, ever-present sense of humor, and his dedication to the community and his profession place him among the very top of the leaders in our profession. We are honored to be able to present him with this award.”
