Michael Zimmerman (jurist)
Michael D. "Mugaku" Zimmerman | |
|---|---|
Zen Buddhism | |
| Lineage | White Plum Asanga |
| Education | University of Utah |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Senior posting | |
| Teacher | Genpo Merzel |
| Based in | Two Arrows Zen |
| Website | Two Arrows Zen [1] |
Michael Zimmerman | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court | |
| In office 1994–1998 | |
| Appointed by | Gov. Scott M. Matheson |
| Preceded by | Gordon R. Hall |
| Succeeded by | Richard C. Howe |
Michael David Zimmerman (born October 21, 1943)
His legal career is notable in a number of ways. Zimmerman was the first graduate from the University of Utah Law School to clerk for the U.S. Supreme Court, working for Chief Justice Warren E. Burger. He was then an early hire at O'Melvany & Meyers LLP in Los Angeles, where he worked for prominent lawyers including former Secretary of State Warren Christopher. After returning to Utah, following the death of his father, Zimmerman worked as a professor at the University of Utah Law School, coaching the moot court team in written and oral appellate advocacy for half a dozen years. He later became special counsel to Utah’s Governor Scott M. Matheson, and was a participant in both public policy advocacy and decision making. In 1984, in his early 40s, Zimmerman was appointed to the Utah Supreme Court. During his 16-year tenure, he participated in the decision of several thousand cases, and served as chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court from 1993 until he stepped down to return to private practice.
In addition to being an accomplished attorney, Zimmerman is a Zen Buddhist teacher. He received
Later, through his work in the courts, he met Diane and began sitting
Biography
Michael Zimmerman was born in
Zimmerman began a meditation practice in 1993 while his first wife, Lynne Mariani Zimmerman, was suffering a terminal illness. She died the next year, in January 1994, after a year-long struggle with cancer.
Awards
- 1988: Utah State Bar Appellate Judge of the Year
- 1994: Excellence in Ethics Award (Utah Valley State College)
- 1998: Distinguished Service Award from the Utah State Bar
- 2001: Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Utah
See also
- Zazen
- Dennis Genpo Merzel
- Kanzeon Zen Center
- Buddhism in the United States
- Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United States
- List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Chief Justice)
References
- ^ Who's Who in American Law 1992-1993. Marquis Who's Who. 1991. p. 975.
- ^ "UTAH JUSTICE SELECTED FOR ETHICS AWARD". Deseret News. September 27, 1994.
- ^ Zimmerman's bio at Snell & Wilmer
- ^ Zimmerman's bio at Zimmerman, Jones, and Booher Archived 2013-12-08 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c Jarvik, Elaine (December 16, 2006). "Utah justice now Zen teacher". Deseret News.
- ^ "DEATH: LYNNE MARIANI ZIMMERMAN". Deseret News. January 31, 1994.
- ^ Jarvik, Elaine (April 24, 2004). "Sitting judge: Retired Utah chief justice finds his way as a Buddhist monk". Deseret News.