WASHINGTON D.C. - A Lima Native and former Assistant Allen County Prosecutor Sheila Willamowski Boehner was sworn into the US Supreme Court Bar during a US Supreme Court session on April 29th.
Sheila Willamowski Boehner, a graduate of the Lima Senior Class of 2006, traveled to Washington, DC to raise her right hand as part of an oath before all nine Justices - and be formally admitted to appear before the Nation's highest Court.
The daughter of local Third District Appellate Judge John Willamowski - and his fellow ONU Law Graduate wife Mona - who grew up in the hallways of a Lima-based Law Office (after her parents opened their own law firm here in the early 90’s) also worked in Columbus as Executive Counsel to the Speaker for Allen County’s own Bob Cupp from 2020 to 2022. Former Speaker Cupp called his mentee to congratulate her the day of her admission.
Sheila Willamowski Boehner says “I suppose I’m a lot like [my former boss and mentor] Bob Cupp - he never liked putting himself in the news to congratulate himself. You just do your work and aren’t naturally inclined to make a production about it. But, I was happy to share my professional update after leaving the Supreme Court gift shop right after I exited the courtroom. I noticed that my favorite (living) Justice did not have much merchandise in it compared to others. I thought ‘well, they are a little busy’ - but I also was sad to think who else is there that can - or could otherwise - relate to that Justice that maybe isn’t hearing their story. Are there young people - who could have been inspired by someone so relatable - missing out simply because that story isn’t being told? So, then I realized I should probably let my hometown news know what I just did so that if anyone hearing this is wondering “could that be me? A kid from Lima?” - that they never again let such a doubt stop them. It can indeed be “a kid from Lima” who stands after hearing their name be said before the highest court in the land. And, maybe one day in my lifetime it will be another “kid from Lima” sitting in one of the Justices’ chairs.”
