Pearson attended The Citadel (a senior military college in Charleston, South Carolina).

Pearson is a former law clerk of Richard M. Givan, a Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court.

[6] Pearson succeeded Theodore L. Sendak to the office and served as Attorney General in the administrations of Governors Robert D. Orr (a Republican) and Evan Bayh (a Democrat).

[7][4] Pearson was the Republican candidate in the 1992 Indiana gubernatorial election, losing the race to incumbent Governor Evan Bayh.

[3] Pearson became Judge for the Clinton County Circuit Court in 1994, after he defeated the incumbent, Jack O'Neill, in the Republican primary.