LAWYER
• 1975 – Judge Mark Wernick obtained his JD Degree from Drake University Law School, in Des Moines, Iowa. Having graduated in the top 10% of his class, Judge Wernick is a member of the Order of the Coif.
• September 1975 through November 1977 – Hired by the legendary Chief Public Defender, Bill Kennedy, Judge Mark Wernick was employed for 2 years as an Assistant Hennepin County Public Defender. During his first year, Judge Wernick was assigned to the misdemeanor division, and during his second year, the felony division.
• December 1977 through October 2002 – For these 25 years, Judge Mark Wernick was in private practice.
• September 1975 through November 1977 – Hired by the legendary Chief Public Defender, Bill Kennedy, Judge Mark Wernick was employed for 2 years as an Assistant Hennepin County Public Defender. During his first year, Judge Wernick was assigned to the misdemeanor division, and during his second year, the felony division.
• December 1977 through October 2002 – For these 25 years, Judge Mark Wernick was in private practice.
• 1977-1984 – Judge Mark Wernick began his private practice as a sole practitioner. During these first 7 years, a significant portion of his work was devoted to pro bono or reduced rate cases, most notably criminal and regulatory cases associated with the construction of a high voltage power line in west central Minnesota and a nuclear waste storage facility on Prairie Island. While taking these cases, Judge Wernick was also building a criminal defense practice. In 1979, he tried his first murder case. In October 1983, at the age of 33, Judge Wernick had the privilege of arguing a murder case before the United States Supreme Court. The case, named Minnesota v. Murphy, 465 U.S. 420 (1984), is referred to in nearly all criminal procedure textbooks and treatises.
• 1985-1987 – In 1985, Judge Mark Wernick began working for, and later partnered with William Mauzy. Under Mr. Mauzy’s mentorship, Judge Wernick gained trial experience in complex white collar and controlled substance cases.
• 1987-2002 – Returning to solo practice in 1987, Judge Mark Wernick moved his office to 2520 Park Avenue, in Minneapolis, where he remained for the next 15 years. With the help of a new mentor, Peter Thompson, Judge Wernick continued building a criminal defense practice.
• 2002 – Having had 27 years of trial experience, Judge Mark Wernick was appointed to serve on the Hennepin County District Court. • 1985-1987 – In 1985, Judge Mark Wernick began working for, and later partnered with William Mauzy. Under Mr. Mauzy’s mentorship, Judge Wernick gained trial experience in complex white collar and controlled substance cases.
• 1987-2002 – Returning to solo practice in 1987, Judge Mark Wernick moved his office to 2520 Park Avenue, in Minneapolis, where he remained for the next 15 years. With the help of a new mentor, Peter Thompson, Judge Wernick continued building a criminal defense practice.