President accepts Pearson nomination to Youngstown federal court

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Barack Obama has accepted U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s nomination of U.S. Magistrate Benita Pearson to judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the senator announced Friday.

“I applaud President Obama for choosing Judge Pearson,” Brown said. “Throughout her career as a prosecutor, private practice attorney, certified public accountant, and magistrate, Judge Pearson served with honor and distinction. I wish her continued success as a federal district judge.”

In July, after consulting with U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, Brown recommended to the president Pearson’s nomination to the $174,000 a year judgeship.

Pearson said she plans to move to the Mahoning Valley if she’s confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

“I am humbled and honored to be recommended by Senators Brown and Voinovich to serve as an Article III judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio,” Judge Pearson said upon being recommended for the lifetime appointment.

“Should I be nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to sitting in Youngstown and becoming a part of that community... I will do everything in my power to deserve this high honor,” the magistrate said.

If she is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Pearson will succeed Judge Peter C. Economus of Poland, who retired July 3 from the full-time federal district judgeship he occupied for 14 years. He continues to hear cases in Youngstown as a senior judge.

The Cleveland-born Pearson was selected as a magistrate by the Northern District Court in 2008. In that position, she has overseen a range of federal judicial proceedings, including jury trials, bail hearings, preliminary examinations, and search warrants.

Before her selection as a magistrate, Pearson, 46, of Solon, served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio and as an associate with the Jones Day Reavis & Pogue law firm in Cleveland.