Pearson to be sworn in as US District Court judge

Photo

Benita Pearson

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.