Benjamin J. Cheeks | |
---|---|
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California | |
Designate | |
Assuming office TBD | |
Appointed by | Joe Biden |
Succeeding | Gonzalo P. Curiel |
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California | |
Assumed office July 19,2024 | |
Preceded by | Bernard Skomal |
Personal details | |
Born | 1977 (age 46–47) Albany,Georgia,U.S. |
Education | University of Miami (BA) American University (JD) |
Benjamin Jerome Cheeks (born 1977) [1] is an American lawyer who has served as a United States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California since July 2024. He is the designate to serve as a United States district judge of the same court.
Cheeks is the son of Rosetta Cheeks and the late Jerome Leon Cheeks. He is a graduate of the Blanche Ely High School. [2] He received a Bachelor of Arts from the Miami University in 2000 and a Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law in 2003. [3]
From 2003 to 2010,Cheeks served as an assistant district attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office. From 2010 to 2013,he served as an assistant United States attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California. From 2013 to 2024,he was a criminal defense lawyer in private practice at the Law Offices of Benjamin J. Cheeks,A.P.C. in San Diego. [3]
On March 28,2024,he was selected as a United States magistrate judge. [2] On July 19,2024,he was sworn in as a United States magistrate judge of the Southern District of California. He filled the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Bernard Skomal. [4]
On October 23,2024,President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Cheeks to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. [3] On November 18,2024,his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Cheeks to the seat vacated by Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel,who assumed senior status on September 7,2023. [5] [6] On November 20,2024,a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. [7] On December 12,2024,his nomination was favorably reported out of committee by an 11–10 party-line vote. [8] On December 20,2024,the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 49–47 vote. [9] Later that day,his nomination was confirmed by a 49–47 vote. [10] He is awaiting his judicial commission.
Cheeks is married to Dr. Brenda Perez-Cheeks,and they have two sons. [2]
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