Pamela Ann Barker (; born 1957) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. She formerly served as a Judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.
Early life and education
Barker was born in 1957 in Cleveland, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Kenyon College, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and her Juris Doctor from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law."President Donald J. Trump Announces Twelfth Wave of Judicial Nominees, Twelfth Wave of United States Attorneys, and Sixth Wave of United States Marshals" White House, April 10, 2018
Legal career
Prior to ascending to the bench, Barker spent twenty-nine years representing individuals, small businesses, and corporations, with a particular emphasis on insurance litigation. From 2000 to 2011, she served as a Mayor's Court Magistrate and Juvenile Diversion Magistrate for the City of Brecksville, Ohio.
She was appointed to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas by Governor John Kasich and assumed office on September 19, 2011. Barker was elected to the court in November 2012. Her state court service ended on June 18, 2019, upon her elevation to the federal bench.
Federal judicial service
On September 29, 2017, Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman recommended Barker for a federal judgeship. On April 10, 2018, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Barker to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. On April 12, 2018, her nomination was sent to the Senate. She was nominated to the seat vacated by Judge Donald C. Nugent, who assumed senior status on January 1, 2017."Twenty-Nine Nominations Sent to the Senate Today", The White House, April 12, 2018 On October 10, 2018, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for October 10, 2018
On January 3, 2019, her nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the Senate. On January 23, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to renominate Barker for a federal judgeship."President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Judicial Nominees", White House, January 23, 2019 Her nomination was sent to the Senate later that day."Nominations Sent to the Senate", White House, January 23, 2019 On February 7, 2019, her nomination was reported out of committee by a voice vote.Results of Executive Business Meeting – February 7, 2019, Senate Judiciary Committee On June 11, 2019, the Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 89–7 vote.On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Pamela A. Barker, of Ohio, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio), United States Senate, June 11, 2019 On June 12, 2019, her nomination was confirmed by a 91–5 vote.On the Nomination (Confirmation Pamela A. Barker, of Ohio, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio), United States Senate, June 12, 2019 She received her judicial commission on June 18, 2019. She was sworn in on June 19, 2019.
Personal life
Her parents are William D. Addison and Peggy Ann Addison. She is married to Jeffery L. Barker, with whom she has two sons.
References
External links
"Judge Pamela A. Barker" profile at Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court