On Thursday, March 28, 2024, the District Judges of the U S District Court of the Southern District of California selected Benjamin Jerome Cheeks as its newest United States Magistrate Judge! He is the first African American Magistrate Judge to serve in the aforementioned district since the appointment and retirement of Magistrate Judge William (Bill) McCurine (2004 – 2014). The Honorable Judge Cheeks was officially sworn in (at an informal ceremony) on Friday, July 19, 2024, by the Honorable Dana M. Sabraw, Chief Judge of the United States District Court. In addition to the informal swearing in ceremony, a formal swearing in ceremony is scheduled to be held in November 2024.