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For 8 years Mark practiced law in Columbus, Ohio before moving to Somerset, Kentucky, where he practiced for another 15 years. By the time Mark left Somerset, he limited his practice to criminal defense in the state and federal courts. Mark recently left that very successful private practice to take a position with the Minnesota Public Defender system and more recently left that position to form the consulting company that he now runs. Mark has a Bachelor of Arts degree (Economics) from the Ohio State University (1979) and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Louisville (1982).
Mark is a past-president (1998-1999), and a Life Member, of the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (KACDL), and he continues to serve on the Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). For his contributions to the practice of criminal defense law in Kentucky, Mark was awarded the Frank E. Haddad, Jr. Award, by the KACDL, in 2000.
Mark serves as a faculty member at the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy's Litigation Persuasion Institute and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association's Defender Advocacy Institute. Additionally, he has served on the faculty of the Indiana Public Defender's Trial Skills Institute, the Clark County (Las Vegas, Nevada) Trial Skills Institute, and the Minnesota Public Defender's Trial School.
Mark has been trial counsel in a number of "high profile" death penalty, and other homicide cases throughout Kentucky and various cases of intense local interest in the Lake Cumberland Region of south-central Kentucky..
Mark is a disciple of Herb Stern's "Trying Cases to Win" trial methodology, a student of the life and career of the great Earl Rogers, and a fan of the greatest criminal law "hacks" in literary history, Perry Mason (whose character was modelled after Rogers) and Horace Rumpole.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
| 1975-1979 |
The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Economics |
| 1979-1982 |
The University of Louisville, Louisville Kentucky
Brandeis School of Law Degree: Juris Doctor |
- 1982 - Ohio Bar
- 1990 - Kentucky Bar
- 1983 - United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- 1984 - United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- 1985 - Admitted pro hoc vice in Texas (Fort Worth County) and Maryland (Prince Georges County)
- 1990 - United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
- 1990 - United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- 1997 - United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- 1998 - Unites States Supreme Court
- 2003 - Admitted pro hoc vice in United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami
- 2005 - Temporary Admission to the practice of law granted by the Minnesota Board of Bar Examiners. (15-month license to practice public defense law pending approval of my application for permanent admission)
- 2006 - Minnesota Bar

- Ohio Bar Association--1982 to present
- Kentucky Bar Association--1990 to present
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers–1992 to present.
Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers–1992 to present; Life Member; Director, 1996-1999; President, 1998-1999; Board member, ex officio, 1999-present; Education Committee: member, 1999-2005, Chair, 2001-2002; Legislative Committee: Member 2005.
- Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers–2005 to present; Member CLE Committee.
- Kentucky Criminal Justice Council--Member representing KACDL, 1998-1999; Penal Code/Sentencing Committee member, 1998-2000; Alternatives to Incarceration Committee member, 1999-2000.
- Kentucky Bar Association--Pro Bono Committee 1994-1995
- American Trial Lawyers Association--1983-1995
- Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys--1993-1995
- American College of Barristers--Senior Counsel Member, 2001 to present
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Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Frank E. Haddad, Jr. Award (For contributions to the practice of criminal law in Kentucky)--2000
Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Board of Directors Award:
"Kentucky Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year"--1997
Kentucky Bar Association Legal Education Award--1994-present
Kentucky Bar Association Donated Legal Services Award

I was both trial and appellate counsel in several cases that have "made law" in Kentucky.
- Anderson v Commonwealth, Ky., 864 S.W.2d 909 (1993)
- Stringer v Commonwealth, Ky., 956 S.W.2d 883 (1997)
- Baker v Commonwealth, Ky. App. 11 S.W.3d 585 (2000)
- Gosser v Commonwealth, Ky., 31 S.W.3d 897 (2000).
| Judge |
Association of Trial Lawyers of America Annual Law School Mock Trial Competition 1984, 1994-1997, 1999 |
| Author |
Pulaski News Journal (weekly paper) Weekly column entitled In Defense Various Legal Topics 1997 |
| Adjunct
Professor |
Somerset Community College 2000-2004Course(s) taught: BE 267 – Business Law |
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