26 September 2023
DULUTH Two new leaders have been appointed in the Northeastern Minnesota public defender’s office.
Matthew Benfield and Steven Hynum will serve as co-managing attorneys in the 6th Judicial District, said Chief Public Defender Dan Lew. Together, the pair will jointly oversee attorneys and support staff at the Duluth courthouse in southern St. Louis County, along with Carlton, Lake and Cook counties.
“Matt and Steve bring over a decade of experience, energy, and are leaders in DNA, forensic science and our community-oriented public defense efforts,” Lew said. “Matt and Steve will continue their passion for leading our region.”
Benfield is a 2010 graduate of Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul. Having spent more than a decade in the local public defender’s office, he recently completed a “DNA Bootcamp” program and is a member of the 6th District’s DNA and forensic evidence working group.
“Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, I landed in Duluth after meeting my wife in law school and moving here to her hometown,” Benfield said, adding that he remains an avid fan of Clemson University football. “We have two sons who are active in multiple sports, especially baseball. If I am not in the office, there’s a good chance you can find me at the ball field.”
Hynum grew up in Madison and moved to Duluth when he was 13, graduating from the University of Minnesota Duluth and also earning his law degree at Hamline. He said he enjoys hunting and fishing on the area’s many lakes, though he joked, “I’m not particularly effective at either.”
“I’ve worked for the 6th District Public Defender’s Office in various roles for the past 10 years,” Hynum said. “From support staff to senior attorneys, my colleagues throughout the 6th District work tirelessly to provide high-quality representation for our clients. It’s an honor to take on a leadership role with this organization.”
The announcement represents a restructuring and addition to the management team in the four-county office after Gov. Tim Walz appointed former managing attorney Nicole Hopps to the Duluth bench in July.
Mark Muhich, an Iron Range-based managing attorney whose duties previously included Carlton County, will now solely lead efforts at the Hibbing and Virginia courthouses, while Benfield and Hynum are responsible for the remainder of the region.
In addition to attorneys, the public defender’s office employs a number of support personnel including investigators, paralegals, legal assistants and dispositional advisers.
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