Samuel Courter Morris Shimeall was officially sworn in as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Ohio in Columbus on March 16, according to Chief Judge Sarah D. Morrison.
The appointment is significant for the federal court, as it brings an experienced prosecutor and former law clerk back to serve the district from the bench.
Chief Judge Morrison said, “We are thrilled to welcome Judge Shimeall to our Court. His extensive experience in the federal system gives him a profound understanding of the law and the mission of our Court. We are confident he will serve the public with great distinction.”
Judge Shimeall previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio since 2018, handling cases involving financial fraud, money laundering, and violent crime. He also worked as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr., and U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly A. Jolson before practicing litigation at Bricker & Eckler LLP.
In addition to his legal career, Shimeall spent several years teaching middle school in Watts, California, and working with Teach For America prior to entering law school at Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
“It is an honor to serve the citizens of this district from the bench,” Judge Shimeall said. “I am grateful for all of the help I received along the way in my career, and I am grateful to the District Judges of the Southern District of Ohio for this opportunity. I am dedicated to the rule of law, and my goal is to be a steady, fair presence on the bench.”
Shimeall fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Preston Deavers.
