Cedar County Attorney to resign Oct. 31

HARTINGTON — Cedar County Attorney Ed Matney has tendered his resignation.

Matney’s last day as Cedar County Attorney will be Oct. 31.

After talking with Matney, Cedar County Commissioners appointed his younger brother, Nick Matney, to fill the position of Cedar County Attorney starting Nov. 1. 

Nick Matney, 36, is a 2014 University of South Dakota Law School graduate. He will be the third person to hold the job of Cedar County Attorney in less than two years.

Ed Matney replaced the retiring George Hirschbach in January 2018. He then ran for and won a four-year term as Cedar County Attorney in November 2018.

Ed Matney told Commissioners last Tuesday he would be assisting Nick with any criminal cases and matters that may arise and would attend any future board meetings with Nick when needed. 

The current County Attorney also mentioned that no additional compensation or cost would be incurred in the future by the county with the new working arrangement between the two siblings.

The board thanked Matney for his service and for his willingness to continue working with the County Attorney’s office on criminal matters.

Nick Matney is familiar with Cedar County and the court system here. He worked for a year with Hirschbach on an externship from USD.

“When Nick did that externship, he enjoyed working with George (Hirshbach) and found he enjoyed the criminal aspect of it all,” Ed Matney said.

Ed Matney said this new arrangement actually gives the county the services of two lawyers for the price of one.