Ex-Jones Day Partner Sworn In As U.S. Attorney In Cleveland

Justin Herdman, an attorney who most recently was a partner at the Cleveland-based global law firm Jones Day, was sworn in Monday as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio in Cleveland. Herdman, 43, took his oath in a private ceremony before family members.

Herdman served as an assistant U.S. attorney from 2006-2013, and was the deputy chief of the office’s National Security, Human Rights, and Organized Crime unit. He also investigated and prosecuted national security crimes, and was part of a team that won convictions of five people who attempted to blow up a Cleveland-area bridge.

"We face serious challenges in our region, including the opioid epidemic and violent crime, but we will endeavor daily to make our community safer," Herdman said. (To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Cleveland newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

President Donald Trump nominated Herdman to the post in June. Herdman had been recommended for the post by Ohio’s two senators, Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, and Rob Portman, a Republican. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate earlier this month.

Herdman takes the post previously held by Carole Rendon, who was appointed as U.S. attorney by President Barack Obama and forced by U.S. Attorney Jeff Sessions to resign earlier this year. The Northern District of Ohio covers 40 counties across the state, and includes the cities of Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown and Toledo.