Judge Pearson swearing-in today

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown will swear in Benita Y. Pearson today as the U.S. District Court judge based in Youngstown.

Judge Pearson, a federal magistrate based in Akron since August 2008, was confirmed Dec. 21, 2010, by the U.S. Senate by a 56-39 vote, making her the first black female federal judge in Ohio. She began serving shortly after the Senate confirmation.

All the yes votes were from Democrats, with then-U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, a Republican from Cleveland, being the only member of his political party supporting her. All other Republicans voted against her, as did U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, a Democrat from Nebraska.

Those voting against her expressed concerns about Pearson’s animal-rights views.

Brown, a Democrat from Avon who recommended Pearson for the judicial job in July 2009, will swear her in during a ceremony starting at 3 p.m. today at the Butler Institute of American Art on Wick Avenue.

Judge Pearson replaced Judge Peter C. Economus, who went to senior status in July 2009.