Daniel A. Benson
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Daniel A. Benson is a judge of the 7th Judicial District in Minnesota, serving Todd County. He was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton (D) on January 29, 2014. He replaced Chief Judge Peter Irvine, who retired the previous October.[1] He ran unopposed for election in 2016.[2]
Education
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.[1]
Career
Before becoming a district judge, Benson worked in private practice with the criminal defense firm Benson Law Office, L.L.C. Benson was also an MSBA Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist. Previously, he was a member of the Minnesota State Forensic Trial Team, a managing attorney with the 7th District public defender's office, and an assistant Stearns County attorney.
Awards and associations
- Assistant public defender, 7th District
- Criminal Justice Act Federal Defender Panel
- Public Defender DNA Working Group[1]
Elections
2016
Minnesota held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. A primary election occurred on August 9, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 31, 2016.[3] Incumbent Daniel A. Benson ran unopposed in the Minnesota 7th District, Position 3 general election.[2]
| Minnesota 7th District, Position 3, General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Daniel A. Benson Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 161,593 |
| Total Votes | 161,593 | |
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State, "Unofficial Results Tuesday, November 8, 2016: Results for All Judicial Races," accessed November 9, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
Judges of the Minnesota District Courts are all chosen in nonpartisan elections to serve six-year terms. Candidates compete in primaries, from which the top two contestants advance to the general election. Sitting judges must run for re-election if they wish to serve additional terms. While party affiliation is not designated on the ballot, incumbency is. Sitting judges who reach the age of 70 while in office are allowed to serve until the last day of their birthday month.[4]
The chief judge of each district court is selected by peer vote for a two-year term.[4]
Judges of all courts are required to be "learned in the law" and under 70 years old.[4][5]
See also
- Minnesota Seventh Judicial District
- Courts in Minnesota
- Judicial selection in Minnesota
- Stearns County, Minnesota
- Todd County, Minnesota
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Office of Governor Mark Dayton, "Governor Dayton appoints Daniel A. Benson and Michael D. Fritz to fill Seventh Judicial District vacancies," January 29, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "2016 State General Election Candidate Filings: Judicial Offices," accessed June 1, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2016 Election Dates," accessed December 7, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Minnesota," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Office of the Revisor of Statutes, "2006 Minnesota Statutes," accessed July 30, 2014
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Minnesota • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Minnesota
State courts:
Minnesota Supreme Court • Minnesota Court of Appeals • Minnesota District Courts • Minnesota Problem-Solving Courts • Minnesota Tax Court • Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals
State resources:
Courts in Minnesota • Minnesota judicial elections • Judicial selection in Minnesota
