M. Prothero

Mark’s practice is devoted to representing people accused of crimes. With over 25 years of experience in criminal defense, Mark is able to vigorously defend people and help them and their families through the legal ordeal. His clients range from those charged with driver’s license violations and DUI’s and drug offenses to those charged with sex offenses and murder. Mark is one of the select few attorneys on the Washington Supreme Court's panel to defend individuals faced with the death penalty. Mark is able to defend those accused of both state and federal crimes, felonies and misdemeanors, adults and juveniles.

A frequent lecturer at legal education seminars, Mark is recognized for his expertise on evidence, forensic DNA, mental state defenses, and the death penalty. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Washington Defender Association, and the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, serving on their Board of Governors since 2003 and authoring three articles for the WACDL publication, DEFENSE. Mark has also served as a Judge Pro Tem in Tukwila, Kent, Des Moines, and SeaTac Municipal Courts, as well as in King County Superior Court.

In 2006, Mark and his partner, Gregory Girard, were named Trial Lawyers of the Year by Presumed Innocent magazine. Mark was also named a criminal defense “SuperLawyer” by Washington Law & Politics magazine in 2006 and 2007. This honor recognizes the top twenty five criminal defense practitioners in Washington as voted on by other Washington attorneys.

Mark began his career in criminal defense in 1983 by working as a public defender for the Associated Counsel for the Accused (ACA). He began by defending people in the municipal and district courts accused of such crimes as DUI, shoplifting, and domestic violence. He moved on to defend juveniles, and in 1987, joined the felony unit. While at ACA, Mark also participated in many pro bono projects and was a member of the Innocence Project Northwest.

In his professional capacity, Mark is perhaps best known as one of the lead defense attorneys in the historic case against Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer. Mark also co-authored a book about the case, Defending Gary: Unraveling the Mind of the Green River Killer (Wiley/Jossey Bass 2006).

In addition to his professional activities, Mark is committed to community involvement. Mark has served on several Kent School District committees and, since 2005, he has served on the Board of Directors for the Kent Parks Foundation. Mark also volunteers at local high schools and colleges, speaking about criminal law, and law as a career. In 2003, Mark co-founded the organization Kent Citizens for Water Safety in a successful effort to save the Kent Meridian pool from closure. In 2007 and 2008, he chaired the Citizens for Kent Recreation and Aquatics Future in working to have a new aquatic and recreation facility built in Kent. Mark was also a renowned swimmer in the 70’s and represented the United States in international competitions in Rosario (Argentina), Amsterdam, and Paris.

In his spare time, Mark can be found at the local pool, teaching and coaching children at the Kent Swim and Tennis club. Formerly, he was the swim coach at Kentwood High School from 1997 through 2007. When he is not at a pool, Mark enjoys relaxing at home, spending time with his wife, Kelly. They have two kids, Sean, a college student and swim coach, and Marley, who will be attending, and swimming for, the University of Nevada Las Vegas beginning the fall of 2008.