Mark A. Wilson

Professional career

• Mark Wilson was appointed to the Monroe County Court by Governor Rick Scott in 2017 and has since held the role of an acting circuit judge for both civil and criminal matters
• In November 2025, Judge Wilson filed to run for Sixteenth Circuit Judge, Group 1, aiming to succeed Judge Mark H. Jones upon his retirement in December 2026
• Judge Wilson emphasizes that justice should be firm when necessary and compassionate when appropriate, aiming to ensure the rights of all parties are respected and the law is applied fairly
• He prosecuted public corruption cases, held the role of legal advisor to the Monroe County Grand Jury, and was appointed Special Assistant United States Attorney, prosecuting federal crimes in the Southern District of Florida
• He also taught criminal law, criminal procedure, and evidence as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Penn State and Widener University law schools

Education

Additional information

• handling half of all criminal cases in the lower Florida Keys.
• Qualified by the Florida Supreme Court to preside over capital cases and has managed thousands of criminal and civil matters during his tenure.
• Prior to his legal career, Wilson served four years in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, including deployments in Panama and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
• He earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge for his service during Operation Just Cause.
• He also held the role of a Wyoming State Highway Patrol trooper, leading the state twice in traffic violators apprehended
• He has been elected without opposition since his appointment
• Wilson holds a bachelor’s degree with highest honors from Rutgers University, a magna cum laude law degree from Penn State, and a postgraduate law degree from Yeshiva University
• He has received endorsements from Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay, State Attorney Dennis Ward, and the South Florida Police Benevolent Association.
• Before joining the bench, Wilson served 12 years as a prosecutor in the Office of the State Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, finishing as Chief Assistant State Attorney.