Clark was an assistant city attorney in the City Attorney's Office of Abilene from 1979 to 1982- while working in the Public Defender's office his business card read: "Reasonable Doubt, at a Reasonable Price." He was in private practice in Texas from 1982 to 2002. From 1997 to 2002, while in Sherman in Grayson County, Clark served as a Republican member from District 62 in the Texas House of Representatives.
Federal judicial service
On January 23, 2002, Clark was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated by Howell Cobb. Clark was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 2, 2002, and received his commission on October 10, 2002.[1] A brief controversy arose over Clark's stated intent to remain on the ballot for reelection to his Texas House seat, and to serve through the next legislative session before assuming his judgeship, but this delay proved uncomfortable for the Bush Administration, and ultimately did not materialize.[3] Clark nonetheless won the most votes in the November election, declining the seat and leaving a vacancy to be filled in a later special election.[4] Clark served as chief judge from January 1, 2015, to February 28, 2018. He assumed senior status on February 28, 2018.[5]
