Mark Schuering is a Circuit Judge for Adams County in the Eighth Judicial Circuit.  Schuering was born and raised in Quincy, graduating from Quincy University in 1975 and Saint Louis University School of Law, cum laude, in 1978. Schuering joined the firm of Goehl, Adams and Schuering, where he became a partner.  In addition, he served as an Adams County Public Defender from 1980-1984. Schuering handled a wide-assortment of cases: criminal, civil, family law and workmen’s compensation.  He also supervised interns in the Quincy University pre-law program.

In 1986 Mark Schuering was appointed an associate judge for the Eighth Judicial Circuit.  He became an adjunct instructor at Quincy University, where he teaches courses on the American judicial process and victimology.  He serves as a mentor for pre-law students and supports the university’s mock trial team.  Upon the retirement of Circuit Judge Edward B. Dittmeyer, Schuering ran for his mentor’s seat and was elected in 1990.  From 1990 to 2004 Schuering handled one-third of all major criminal cases and one-half of all major civil cases.  In 2004 Schuering was assigned to preside over major civil cases in Adams County.

Schuering has been a judicial educator since 1987, when he was first assigned by the Illinois Supreme Court to work on the Associate Judge Education Conference.  His work as a judicial educator has continued ever since, including further assignments by the Illinois Supreme Court, teaching on criminal sentencing; management of the DUI offender, evidence; conduct of felony trials, civil motions and ethics.  Schuering originated the first Illinois State Bar Association sentencing manual and collaborated with fellow Quincy resident, Judge Robert S. Hunter, the prolific State and Federal Trial Handbook author, on Hunter’s Illinois Sentencing Trial Handbook.

Judge Schuering is active with the Illinois State Bar Association and is a current member of the ISBA Corrections and Sentencing Committee as well as the Law Related Education Section Committee.  He serves a mentor for new judges, and also serves as a mentor through the Quincy Public Schools mentoring program for high school students.  Schuering has been selected for both the Quincy University and Quincy Notre Dame High School Sports Hall of Fames. Schuering remains active in non-for-profit organized tennis and is the current Chair for the Constitution and Bylaws Committee of the Midwest Tennis Section in Indianapolis, of the United States Tennis Association.  As an accomplished tennis player, Schuering is a 7-time winner of the Adult Quincy Championships. 

Schuering has been active in substance abuse prevention programs for teens and literacy programs.  He is a member of St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church, where he serves as a lector and usher.  He and his wife serve as parish representatives for engaged couples.  He is also a member of the Quincy Exchange Club.  Schuering resides in Quincy with Kate, his wife of more than 30 years.  They are most proud of their five daughters and five grandchildren. Their two oldest daughters are attorneys and currently work as appellate law clerks.  Their three younger daughters work for non-for-profits in public relations and marketing, and as a Teach for America teacher in an inner city school.