Posted: Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced the appointment of Mr. Daniel A. Benson and Mr. Michael D. Fritz as District Court Judges in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District. Mr. Benson will be replacing the Honorable Peter M. Irvine and Mr. Fritz will be replacing the Honorable Lisa N. Borgen. Mr. Benson will be chambered at Long Prairie in Todd County while Mr. Fritz will be chambered at Moorhead in Clay County.

“I am pleased to announce the appointments of Mr. Benson and Mr. Fritz – two highly-qualified individuals, who I am confident will serve the people of the Seventh Judicial District with distinction,” said Governor Dayton. “Both Mr. Benson and Mr. Fritz have extensive legal experience and demonstrated commitments to public service.”

Daniel A. Benson: Mr. Benson is a member of the criminal defense firm of Benson Law Office, L.L.C., and is a MSBA Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist. Previously, he was a member of the Minnesota State Forensic Trial Team, a managing attorney with the Office of the Seventh Judicial District Public Defender, and an Assistant Stearns County Attorney. Mr. Benson earned his B.S. from the University of Minnesota School of Management and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota School of Law.

Additionally, Mr. Benson serves as a part-time Assistant Public Defender for the Seventh Judicial District, a panel member of the Criminal Justice Act Federal Defender Panel, and a member of the Public Defender DNA Working Group. 

Mr. Benson resides with his family in St. Cloud, MN.

Michael Fritz: Mr. Fritz serves as the Becker County Attorney, where he represents the Board of Commissioners and various departments for Becker County, while maintaining a caseload of criminal and child protection matters. He previously served as the Assistant Becker County Attorney and was a partner with Hummel, Sinclair, Evans, Hunt, Heisler and Fritz, P.A. Mr. Fritz earned his B.S. from St. John’s University and his J.D. from the University of North Dakota School of Law.

Additionally, Mr. Fritz is a member of the Becker County Child Abuse Prevention Council (KARE Council) and is a past president of the Becker County Bar Association.

Mr. Fritz resides with his family in Detroit Lakes, MN.