Judge Mark A. Powell was appointed as associate circuit judge for the 31st Judicial Circuit in 2000. In this role, his judicial assignments have included general associate criminal and circuit civil matters. Prior to being appointed to the bench, he was in private practice in Springfield. He received his B.A. in psychology, cum laude, from Missouri State University and his J.D. with honors from Drake University.

Judge Powell is a member of The Missouri Bar, the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, the Missouri Association of Probate and Associate Circuit Judges, Missouri’s Circuit Court Budget Committee, and Missouri’s Judge Transfer Work Group. He established the Truancy Court Program for the Springfield Public Schools and is involved with Springfield Boys and Girls Club, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Southwest Missouri, Community Partnership of the Ozarks and Leadership Springfield.