Hon. Mark E. Betters is a judge for the 5th Judicial District Court of Minnesota in Blue Earth County. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Mark Dayton on March 16, 2017, filling the vacancy of a newly-created position.
The 5th Judicial District includes Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, and Watonwan Counties.
Prior to his appointment, Betters was a shareholder and president at Betters Weinandt Attorneys at Law, having practiced there since 2009. Before that, he was an assistant public defender with the Office of the Public Defender for the 5th Judicial District (2008 to 2009) and an attorney at Manahan, Bluth & Kohlmeyer Law Firm, Chtd. (2005 to 2008).
Betters received a B.A. at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1996. He then spent time as an instrumental music teacher for the Independent School District (1996 to 2002) before completing a J.D. at Hamline University School of Law in 2005.
His memberships have included the Minnesota State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Sixth District Bar Association (past president).
Betters served as a board member of the Mankato Symphony Orchestra and a member investigator of the District Ethics Committee. He was also a youth hockey coach for the Mankato Area Hockey Association.