Mark Matthew O'Mara is an American criminal defense lawyer in Orlando, Florida, known for being the attorney for George Zimmerman. He is a former prosecutor. O'Mara is a legal analyst for CNN.
Early life and education
O'Mara is one of five siblings in a Roman Catholic family of Irish descent. He was raised in Rosedale, Queens, New York City. His father, John Joseph O'Mara, was a World War II veteran, shot down over Germany and spent the better part of a year in a POW camp, until liberated by the Soviets. His father came back to Brooklyn and married his fiancée, Anna "Nancy" McAteer. John Joseph O'Mara joined the New York Fire Department, where he rose to Battalion Chief. He was also President of the Fire Officers Union before he retired and moved to Orlando, Florida, bringing his wife and youngest son Mark, with him. O'Mara is a 1979 graduate of the University of Central Florida, where he was involved in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and Student Government. He was elected as student body president, and graduated and received his J.D. degree from the Florida State University College of Law in 1982.
Career
O'Mara was an Assistant State Attorney with the Seminole County State Attorney Office from 1982 to 1984. Mark M. O’Mara started his career as a prosecutor for the State Attorney's office in Seminole County , then began his private practice, joining forces with other local attorneys before beginning his own firm.. Mark is one of only a few lawyers in Florida who are Board Certified in both Criminal Trial Law and Marital and Family Law; he is also certified in Collaborative Law and is a Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator and Circuit Civil Mediator. He has practiced in both state and federal courts throughout the nation, often co-counseling for complex trials and civil rights matters. He has recently expanded his practice to include representing clients aggrieved by large corporations, from drug and medical device manufacturers to automobile companies in an area of law known as Mass Torts. He and his team utilize the research and trial presentation skills honed over thirty-six years to hold these companies responsible for their wrongs, and to make them more responsible in their future behavior. He has taught at Harvard Law School; Florida State University School of Law; University of Florida School of Law; the University of Buffalo Law School; Baylor University School of Law; Duquesne University School of Law; Barry University School of Law; the University of Central Florida; and Adrian College, among others. He has taught seminars for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Trial Lawyers, The National Board of Trial Advocacy, South Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Bar Association, Georgia Bar Association, Arkansas Bar Association, Alabama Bar Association, Texas Bar Association, Mass Torts Made Perfect Seminar, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Central Florida Family Law American Inn of Court, Criminal Law Section of The Florida Bar, the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar, the Florida Homicide Investigators Association, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Florida Family Law Practice for Paralegals program. ACCOLADES AND AFFILIATIONS Martindale-Hubbell A.V. Preeminent rated lawyer NTL Round Table, member 2013-2018 Top 100 Most Influential Trial Lawyers in America NTL Criminal Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2013 President of National Trial Lawyers Association 2019-2020 Orlando's Top Lawyers, 2010- 2018 National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2012-2019 Jefferson Cup Award from Republican Liberty Caucus of Central East Florida, 2013 Super Lawyers, 2012-2019 Terry Jackson Friend of the Constitution Award, 2015 Central Florida Family Law American Inns of Court, member and Former President Seminole County Bar Association, member and Former President Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member Collaborative Family Law Group of Central Florida, Member National Trial Lawyers Association, Member of Executive Committee Orange County Bar Association O'Mara was a legal analyst for WKMG Channel 6, an Orlando, Florida television station. After the Zimmerman case was over, he was hired as a legal analyst by CNN, a position he has held for over two years.
George Zimmerman trial
O'Mara gained national attention while serving as the defense attorney for George Zimmerman, who was found not guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. In September 2013, after a domestic altercation between George and Shellie Zimmerman, O'Mara said he was continuing to represent George Zimmerman in a defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal but was not representing him in the "domestic altercation case or his impending divorce case."
