ST. PAUL, MN - Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced the appointment of Ms. Darci J. Bentz as District Court Judge in Minnesota's Fifth Judicial District. Ms. Bentz will be replacing the Honorable Linda S. Titus, who retired earlier this year. Ms. Bentz will be chambered at Jackson in Jackson County.

"Ms. Darci Bentz's long history of public service in the criminal justice system, and in her community, has prepared her well for this important position," said Governor Dayton. "I am confident she will serve the people of the Fifth Judicial District with dedication and excellence."

Ms. Bentz is an Assistant Public Defender for the Fifth Judicial District, where her practice focuses on representing adults and juveniles in criminal cases. Previously, she was an attorney at Scott, Nielsen and Bentz, representing clients in workers' compensation cases, unemployment cases, and civil litigation, and a managing attorney for the Fifth Judicial District Public Defender's Office. Ms. Bentz earned her B.A. from the University of Minnesota and her J.D. from the Hamline University School of Law.

Ms. Bentz is a volunteer member of the Martin/Jackson/Faribault County Family Dependency Court and serves as the treasurer for the Kinship Board of Directors, a nonprofit youth mentoring program.

Ms. Bentz resides with her family in Fairmont, MN.

Minnesota's Fifth Judicial District consists of Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, and Watonwan Counties.

More information on the Commission on Judicial Selection, as well as vacancies it is currently considering, can be found at http://mn.gov/governor/appointments/judicial-appointments/

A headshot of /governor/assets/bentz_darci.jpg_tcm1055-96401.jpgMs. Bentz is attached.