Judge Mark Wernick

Hennepin County
District Court




JUDGE


2002 – In November 2002, Governor Jesse Ventura appointed Judge Mark Wernick to the Hennepin County District Court.

2002-2003 – Like all new judges in Hennepin County, during his first year, Judge Mark Wernick was assigned to hear exclusively criminal cases. Because of his background in criminal law, Judge Wernick was assigned a murder case on his first day on the job.

2004-2005 – During this time, Judge Mark Wernick served in the Family Division, hearing primarily divorce and paternity cases. While in the Family Division, Judge Wernick served on the Civil Domestic Violence Committee and the Family Violence Coordinating Council. Also, in July 2004, Judge Wernick was elected by his colleagues to serve on the Court’s Executive Committee, which is the governing body of the Court.

2006 – In January 2006, Judge Mark Wernick was assigned a “civil block” of cases in addition to general criminal cases. Judge Wernick wrote several legal opinions in civil cases which can be found in the library maintained by the Civil Litigation Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association. In July 2006, Judge Wernick was re-elected to serve on the Court’s Executive Committee. Later that year, Chief Judge Lucy Wieland appointed Judge Wernick to serve on the Court’s Budget Committee. In 2006, Judge Wernick also joined the Court’s Equal Justice Committee.

2007-2008 – In January 2007, Judge Mark Wernick was assigned a “felony block” of cases. This was a full time assignment consisting of serious felony offenses. In the fall of 2007, Chief Judge Wieland appointed Judge Wernick to chair the Budget Committee.

2008-present – In July 2008, newly elected Chief Judge James Swenson appointed Judge Mark Wernick to be the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division. As Presiding Judge, Judge Wernick manages the assignments of criminal cases and coordinates the Court’s work on criminal cases with other criminal justice agencies. Judge Wernick continues to serve on the Court’s Executive, Budget, and Equal Justice Committees.