WASHINGTON — Cleveland and Northern Ohio have a new top prosecutor.
The United State Senate on Wednesday unanimously confirmed Marisa T. Darden as the next U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. Her appointment comes roughly five months after her nomination by President Joe Biden, and she becomes the first Black woman to assume the role.
A Sandusky native whose father Thom was an All-Pro safety for the Browns, Darden received degrees from the University of Michigan and the Duke University School of Law. Her career has included stints as an assistant district attorney in New York City as well as an assistant U.S. attorney for the district she will now lead. Most recently she was a partner in the Cleveland-based law firm Squire Patton Boggs.
Ohio U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman both recommended Darden to the White House. Brown released the following statement after she was confirmed:
"Ms. Darden will be an outstanding U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. Throughout her legal career, serving the community has been her priority. As the first African American woman in this role, Ms. Darden would bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to lead the Northern District with excellence. Her unanimous confirmation by the full Senate reflects that."
Bridget M. Brennan (now a federal judge) and Michelle M. Baeppler had each led the district on an interim basis since Biden took office in January of 2021, replacing the Trump-appointed Justin Herdman. As an assistant U.S. attorney, Harden served under both Herdman and his two immediate predecessors, Carole Rendon and Steve Dettlebach.
