Chief Judge Algenon L. Marbley is a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Upon recommendation from Senator John Glenn, President Bill Clinton appointed Judge Marbley to the bench in 1997. Judge Marbley became the Chief District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio on Sept. 14, 2019, becoming the first African American to serve in that capacity. In his over 24 years serving as a district court judge, Judge Marbley has presided over some of the most important cases in central Ohio and the country, ranging from voting rights issues to issues involving policing. The Washington Post adopted one of his statements during a trial as its motto: "Democracy dies in darkness."
Prior to serving on the bench, Chief Judge Marbley was a partner at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, where he practiced civil, criminal and administrative law for 11 years.
Chief Judge Marbley received his B.A in 1976 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a North Carolina Fellow and received his J.D. in 1979 from Northwestern University. He received an Honorary Doctor of Laws in 2022 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and in 2000 from Capital University Law School. He was selected as the Northwestern University Law School Trienens Visiting Judicial Scholar in 2021, where he delivered the Trienens Lecture, and he serves as a member of the Constitutional Law Committee of the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Chief Judge Marbley also remains active in the community. He currently serves as a Member on the Boards of Nationwide Children's Hospital, the KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) School, and The Columbus Symphony. He previously was a Member on the Boards of Trustees of The Ohio State University (2007-2014), The King Arts Complex (2004-2008), African American Leadership Academy (2004-2007), Racial Fairness Implementation Task Force (2000-2001), Salesian Boys and Girls Club (1991-1997) and Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association (1991-1996).
Chief Judge Marbley is married and the father of two adult sons, one stepson, and three granddaughters.