Michael David Zimmerman (born October 21, 1943)[1] is an American lawyer who served as the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court.

Later, through his work in the courts, he met Diane and began sitting zazen at Kanzeon Zen Center with Merzel under Hamilton's suggestion.

Following graduation, Zimmerman moved to Washington, D.C. and worked as a judicial clerk for Warren E. Burger, then the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

[4] Zimmerman continued to serve as Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court during this time, while also raising their three daughters on his own.

In December 2006 he received Dharma transmission from Dennis Genpo Merzel, giving him authority to teach Zen to others.