He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Youngstown State University in 1967, and received a Juris Doctor from the University of Akron School of Law in 1970.

He was a staff attorney at the Mahoning County Legal Assistance Association, Ohio from 1971 to 1972.

He was a judge of the Mahoning County Ohio Court of Common Pleas from 1982 to 1995.

[2] Economus was nominated to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio by President Bill Clinton on February 28, 1995, to a seat vacated by Judge Frank J. Battisti.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 30, 1995, and received his commission the same day.