Judge Mark S. Wernick

Hennepin County Courthouse
Phone: (612)348-2040

Chambers Phone: 612-596-9201

Chambers Email: Email Chambers Staff

Appointed/Elected:

Appointed in 2002. Elected in 2004 and 2010. His current term expires in January 2017.

Education:

J.D., Drake University of Law, 1975, Order of the Coif
B.A., University of Minnesota, 1972

Employment:

• Wernick Law Office, 1987
• Mauzy & Wernick, 1985
• Wernick Law Office, 1977
• Assistant Hennepin County Public Defender, 1975

Professional Memberships:

• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Hennepin County Bar Association
• Minnesota District Judges Association

Positions Held in Professional Associations

• President, Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2000
• Chair, Criminal Law Section, Minnesota State Bar Association, 1996-97
• Co-chair, Criminal Law Section, Hennepin County Bar Association, 1991-93

Additional Information:

Assignment History

• Felony and Misdemeanor Block, 9/2010 – Present
• Presiding Judge, Criminal Division, 7/2008-6/2012
• Felony Block, 1/2007-6/2008
• Civil Block and Criminal, 1/2006-12/2006
• Family, 1/2004-12/2005
• Criminal, 11/2002-12/2003

Fourth Judicial District Court Bench Committees

• Executive Committee
• Criminal Law Committee
• Equal Justice Committee

CLE Lecturer

• "'Not for the Faint of Heart,"  Managing the Complex Criminal Case -- Scheduling Conferences and Case Management Orders  2013 SCAO Judicial Education, Minnesota District Judges Association, Hamline Law School
• "Avoiding Reversible Error When Taking Guilty Pleas," 2011 Annual Conference of Judges
• “Post-Conviction Relief after Padilla,” 2011 Minnesota District Judge Association
•  "Padilla v. Kentucky - Retroactivity," 2011 Upper Midwest Conference American Immigration Lawyers Association
• “Judicial Role in Plea Bargaining,” 2010 Criminal Justice Institute
• “2010 Calendaring Pilot in Hennepin County District Court,” 2010 Suburban Prosecutors’ Association
• “Sentencing Multiple Counts,” State Court Administrator’s Office, Disposition & Sentencing Education Program, 2010
• “Judicial Role in Plea Bargaining,” 2009 Suburban Prosecutors’ Association
• “Bail and Public Safety,” 2008 Fourth Judicial District Court Bench Meeting
• “Judicial Role in Plea Bargaining,” 2007 Minnesota Judicial College  
• "The Minnesota Supreme Court Jury Task Force; Best Practices for Voir Dire Are Coming," MACDL, 2001
• "Joinder and Severance of Offenses and Defendants," MSBA Criminal Law Section, 2001
• "Living With the New Final Argument Rule," State Public Defender Conference, 2000
• "Preparing to Win: Developing Your Theory and Use of Themes," Law and Politics CLE, 1999
• Course Chair - "Criminal Cases, The Basics From In-house Investigation To Closing Arguments," MILE, 1998
• "State Discovery Dilemmas," MACDL, 1997
• "How To Examine Witnesses Effectively," MSBA-CLE, 1997
• "In Defense Of White Collar Criminal Cases," MSBA-Criminal Justice Institute, 1995
• "Televising Trials: The Search For Truth Or The Courtroom Is A Stage?" MILE, 1995
• "Brainstorming For Themes and Theories of Defense in Federal Criminal Cases," Federal Defender Seminar, 1993
• "Discovery in Complex Criminal Cases," MSBA Criminal Justice Institute, 1992
• "Legal Fees, Money Laundering and Forfeiture," MILE, 1992
• "Money Laundering and Forfeiture," MSBA Criminal Justice Institute, 1991
• "Bail and Pretrial Detention Issues," MSBA Criminal Justice Institute, 1987
• "DWI Update," MSBA Criminal Justice Institute, 1986
• "Recent Cases - Search and Seizure," MSBA Criminal Justice Institute, 1985
• "Immigration Consequences in Criminal Law," American Immigration Lawyers Association, 1985

Community Activities

• Board of Directors, Council on Crime and Justice, 2011 - present
• Board of Directors, Sabathani Community Center, Inc., 1985-2010
• Page Foundation Mentor, 2003-2005
• MSBA "Everybody Wins" Elementary School Reading Program, 2003-2005
• Board of Directors, Legal Rights Center, Inc., 1994-2002
• Chair, Minneapolis Police Civilian Review Working Committee, 1989