Gov. Tim Walz appointed Itasca County Attorney Matti Adam and Pennington County Attorney Seamus Duffy to fill two retirement vacancies in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District.
Adam will fill the seat chambered in Bemidji, and Duffy will fill the Mahnomen opening.
Adam and Duffy were two of five candidates recommended to fill the vacancies by the Commission of Judicial Selection. The commission recommends candidates to the governor, who makes the final appointments.
Matti Adam
Adam is the county attorney in the Itasca County Attorney’s Office, where she is the county’s chief prosecutor and legal adviser. She was previously an assistant county attorney in the Itasca County Attorney’s Office and a law clerk for Judge Fred Karasov and Judge Peter Cahill in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District.
Adam’s community involvement includes serving as the co-chair of the Minnesota County Attorney’s Association Indian Law Committee and as a board member of the Grand Rapids Area Library Foundation.
In an email, Adam said it's been a privilege to serve the people of Itasca County.
"I’ve had the benefit of working alongside talented attorneys and staff in the Itasca County Attorney’s Office for the past ten years and I know that they are committed to carrying out the important work of keeping our community safe and strong," she wrote.
"The appointment to the bench in Beltrami County brings an opportunity to serve rural communities in a new way. I am excited about this next chapter and am honored by the recognition for the work I’ve done and to have been appointed by the Governor."
Seamus Duffy
Duffy is the county attorney in the Pennington County Attorney’s Office. He was previously an assistant public defender in the Ninth Judicial District and an attorney at Duffy Law Office.
Duffy’s community involvement includes serving as a member of the Pennington County DWI Court and a lecturer at Northland Community and Technical College. His community involvement also includes volunteering with the Thief River Falls Amateur Hockey Association and the Thief River Falls Archery Club.
For more information about the judicial selection process, visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage.
-
Plus: A new conservation easement protects more than 900 acres on North Shore; Cohasset to host comprehensive plan meeting; and more Northland HS sports results. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEHarper is accused of resisting arrest by Deputy Michael Cowan on May 4, 2026 as deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant in Max, in rural northwestern Itasca County. -
Contributed/Rock Ridge Public Schools via FacebookIt was the team's sixth-straight state tournament. Singles and duos from Rock Ridge and other rural Northland schools also hit the courts in tourney action. -
Contributed/PexelsSix rural Northland teams competed in state softball tournament in Mankato on June 2-5, 2026. The Barnum girls were consolation runners-up. -
Contributed/Kirk Erickson via Darrin SmedsmoThe dispute drew the attention of international media and pilots' associations, raising concerns about the rights of distressed pilots while making emergency landings. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe community celebration at Rapids Brewing Co. was a mix of information about the past year at KAXE, celebrating volunteers and great live Minnesota music. -
Plus: the Rock Ridge boys' tennis team took fourth at state and many Northland golfers will head to state next week after qualifying.
-
Contributed/Nicole Neri | Minnesota ReformerA Detroit Lakes food co-op and independent food stores like it show a resilient rural Minnesota. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXETo celebrate KAXE's 50th birthday, Klockow Brewery hosts a night of storytelling featuring stories from KAXE contributors. -
Contributed/briandjan607 via FlickrThe Emergency Forest Order will be in effect in all areas of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness beginning at midnight on June 6, 2026.
