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Benjamin J. Cheeks
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
Incumbent
Assumed office January 9, 2025
Appointed by	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Gonzalo P. Curiel
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
In office July 19, 2024 – January 9, 2025
Preceded by	Bernard Skomal
Personal details
Born	1977 (age 47–48) Albany, Georgia, U.S.
Education	University of Miami (BA) American University (JD)

Benjamin Jerome Cheeks (born 1977) is an American lawyer who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California since 2025. He previously served as a United States magistrate judge of the same court from 2024 to 2025.

Early life and education

Cheeks is the son of Rosetta Cheeks and the late Jerome Leon Cheeks. He is a graduate of the Blanche Ely High School. 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.

Career

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.

Federal judicial service

On March 28, 2024, he was selected as a United States magistrate judge. 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.

District court service

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. 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. On November 20, 2024, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On December 12, 2024, his nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 party-line vote. On December 20, 2024, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 49–47 vote. Later that day, his nomination was confirmed by a 49–47 vote. He received his judicial commission on January 9, 2025.

Personal life

Cheeks is married to Dr. Brenda Perez-Cheeks, and they have two sons.

See also

• List of African American jurists
• List of African American federal judges

References

1. "Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
2. ^ Henry, Carma (August 1, 2024). "A MOMENT IN HISTORY – BENJAMIN JEROME CHEEKS, former graduate of Blanche Ely High School, is the newest Federal Magistrate Judge in San Diego, CA". thewestsidegazette.com. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
3. ^ "President Biden Names Fifty-Fifth Round of Judicial Nominees" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. October 23, 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
4. Figueora, Terri (July 25, 2024). "Prosecutor turned defense attorney is newest federal magistrate judge in San Diego". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
5. "Biden nominates federal judges to courts in Santa Ana and San Diego". www.dailyjournal.com. October 24, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
6. "Nominations Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. November 18, 2024.
7. "Nominations". Washington, D.C.: United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. November 20, 2024.
8. "Results of Executive Business Meeting – December 12, 2024" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
9. "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Benjamin J. Cheeks to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California)". United States Senate. December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
10. "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Benjamin J. Cheeks, of California, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California)". United States Senate. December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
11. Benjamin J. Cheeks at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

External links

• Benjamin J. Cheeks at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

• 1977 births
• Living people
• 21st-century American judges
• 21st-century African-American lawyers
• African-American judges
• American criminal defense lawyers
• Assistant United States Attorneys
• Blanche Ely High School alumni
• Judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
• Miami University alumni
• People from Albany, Georgia
• United States district court judges appointed by Joe Biden
• United States magistrate judges
• Washington College of Law alumni