Benita Y. Pearson
Encyclopedia
Benita Yalonda Pearson is a United States federal judge
on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
and formerly a United States magistrate judge
on the same court.
in 1985 and then earned a law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
at Cleveland State University
in 1995.
, 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
. From 1998 until 2000, Pearson served as a general litigation associate for Jones Day
Reavis & Pogue in Cleveland.
From 2000 until 2008, Pearson served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Cleveland.
In August 2008, Pearson became a United States magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
.
Sherrod Brown
and Republican
George Voinovich
. On December 3, 2009, President Obama formally nominated Pearson to serve on the Northern District of Ohio. Pearson was chosen to fill the seat vacated by Judge Peter C. Economus
, who had taken senior status
.
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. She became the first African-American woman to hold a U.S. district judgeship in Ohio.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is the federal trial court for the northern half of Ohio...
and formerly a United States magistrate judge
United States magistrate judge
In the United States federal courts, magistrate judges are appointed to assist United States district court judges in the performance of their duties...
on the same court.
Early life and education
Born and raised in Cleveland, Pearson earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1985 and then earned a law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
The Cleveland–Marshall College of Law is the law school of Cleveland State University, located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school traces its origins to the founding of Cleveland Law School in 1897 which, in 1946, merged with the John Marshall School of Law, founded in 1916, to become Cleveland–Marshall...
at Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969...
in 1995.
Professional career
From 1985 until 1992, Pearson worked for BPBP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
, 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
United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is the federal trial court for the northern half of Ohio...
Judge John Michael Manos
John Michael Manos
John Michael Manos was a United States federal judge for 30 years.-Early life and education:Manos was born to Maria and Michael E. Manos on December 8, 1922, in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up in the Tremont neighborhood. Like many Depression-era Cleveland kids, he worked odd jobs at the West Side...
. From 1998 until 2000, Pearson served as a general litigation associate for Jones Day
Jones Day
Jones Day is an international law firm founded in Cleveland, Ohio on March 1, 1893, by Judge Edwin J. Blandin and William Lowe Rice. Jones Day is the eighth largest law firm in the world by revenue, and the fourth highest grossing firm in the US with annual revenues of US$1.4 billion...
Reavis & Pogue in Cleveland.
From 2000 until 2008, Pearson served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Cleveland.
In August 2008, Pearson became a United States magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is the federal trial court for the northern half of Ohio...
.
Nomination to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
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, DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Sherrod Brown
Sherrod Brown
Sherrod Campbell Brown is the senior United States Senator from Ohio and a member of the Democratic Party. Before his election to the U.S. Senate, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Ohio's 13th congressional district from 1993 to 2007...
and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
George Voinovich
George Voinovich
George Victor Voinovich is a former United States Senator from the state of Ohio, and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served as the 65th Governor of Ohio from 1991 to 1998, and as the 54th mayor of Cleveland from 1980 to 1989.-Personal life:Born in Cleveland, Ohio, his father was...
. On December 3, 2009, President Obama formally nominated Pearson to serve on the Northern District of Ohio. Pearson was chosen to fill the seat vacated by Judge Peter C. Economus
Peter C. Economus
Peter C. Economus is a United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.Economus was born in Youngstown, Ohio. He received a B.A. from Youngstown State University in 1967, and received a J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law in 1970...
, who had taken senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
.
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
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. She became the first African-American woman to hold a U.S. district judgeship in Ohio.