Lezlie O. Marek

Lezlie Ott Marek recently retired from the Minnesota Judicial Branch after serving as a trial court judge in Ramsey County for 11 years. 

She was appointed to the bench by Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2010, and was elected in 2012 and 2018. While on the bench, she presided over hundreds of civil cases, including personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, premises liability, employment, real property, probate and business disputes. In addition, she was appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to preside over all Minnesota asbestos exposure cases. She continues to serve the Minnesota Judicial Branch as a Senior Judge.

Prior to her appointment to the bench, Lezlie worked as a civil litigator for 27 years. She was a partner in the Minneapolis law firms of Bowman and Brooke LLP and Hanson Marek Bolkcom and Greene, Ltd. Her practice focused on product liability and other complex civil ligation on a national level.

Lezlie has significant experience resolving cases, both as counsel, as a judge and as a mediator. She is a qualified neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota Rules of Practice. She has the highest AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell for legal competence and professional ethics. She is available to assist parties as a mediator, arbitrator or special master.

Lezlie is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul and received her law degree from Notre Dame Law School. She mentors undergraduate and law students at the University of St. Thomas, and has been a legal writing instructor at the University of Minnesota Law School. She previously served as President of the Minnesota District Judges Foundation, as a Board member for the Ramsey County Bar Association, and on the Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Litigation Governing Council.  She currently serves as a Board member for Christo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis.