Benita Y. Pearson

Benita Yalonda Pearson (born February 1963) is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and formerly a United States Magistrate Judge on the same court.

Benita Y. Pearson
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
Assumed office
December 27, 2010
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byPeter C. Economus
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
In office
August 2008 – December 27, 2010
Personal details
BornFebruary 1963 (age 57–58)
Cleveland, Ohio
EducationGeorgetown University (B.S.)
Cleveland–Marshall College of Law (J.D.)

Early life and education

Born and raised in Cleveland,[1] Pearson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Georgetown University in 1985 and then earned a Juris Doctor from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University in 1995.[2][3]

Professional career

From 1985 until 1992, Pearson worked for BP, first as a corporate accountant (1985–1987) and then as a supervisor of retail marketing accounting (1987–1990) and then in retail sales (1990–1992). From 1992 until 1994, Pearson worked as a law clerk for a Cleveland law firm, and from 1995 until 1996, Pearson served as a litigation associate for a Cleveland law firm. From 1996 until 1998, Pearson served as a law clerk for United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio Judge John Michael Manos.[2] From 1998 until 2000, Pearson served as a general litigation associate for Jones Day Reavis & Pogue in Cleveland.[2] From 2000 until 2008, Pearson served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Cleveland.[2] In August 2008, Pearson became a United States Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.[2][3]

Federal judicial service

In July 2009, Pearson was recommended to serve as a United States District Judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio by both Ohio Senators, Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican George Voinovich.[1] On December 3, 2009, President Obama formally nominated Pearson to serve on the Northern District of Ohio.[2] Pearson was chosen to fill the seat vacated by Judge Peter C. Economus, who had taken senior status.[1] The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary reported Pearson's nomination to the full Senate on February 11, 2010. Her nomination was confirmed by the Senate on December 21, 2010 by a vote of 56–39, with George Voinovich of Ohio casting the lone Republican 'aye' vote.[4][5] She received her commission on December 27, 2010. She became the first African-American woman to hold a federal judgeship in Ohio.[5][6][3]

See also

References
  1. Mike Tobin, Benita Pearson recommended to federal judgeship, The Plain Dealer (July 21, 2009).
  2. President Obama Nominates Nancy Freudenthal, Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. and Judge Benita Pearson to Serve on the District Court Bench, whitehouse.gov (December 4, 2009).
  3. "Pearson, Benita Yalonda – Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  4. U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress – 2nd Session, Vote Number 290: Confirmation Benita Y. Pearson, senate.gov (December 21, 2010).
  5. David Skolnick, First black female federal judge in Ohio to serve in Youngstown, The Vindicator (December 22, 2010).
  6. James F. McCarty, Cleveland woman confirmed by U.S. Senate to federal bench in Youngstown, The Plain Dealer (December 21, 2010).
Legal offices
Preceded by
Peter C. Economus		 Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
2010–present		 Incumbent
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