Judge Marek Kotlinowski was born on 13 May 1956 in Gorlice. Graduated from the Faculty of Law and Administration of the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, receiving his master's degree in administration in 1980 and a master's degree in law in 1984.

In 1987 registered on the list of legal advisers and in 1996 on the list of advocates. In the period 1987-1995 worked as a legal adviser. He ran a Legal Adviser's Office from 1995 to 1998, and a Lawyer's Office from 1998 to 2001.

Deputy to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of the 3rd and 4th terms. In the Sejm of the 4th term Deputy Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee. In the years 2005-2006 a Deputy Speaker of the Sejm and a Deputy Chairman of the Special Committee for Consideration of Bills on Amendment of the Constitution submitted by the President of the Republic and on Amendment of the Code of Penal Procedure.

From 1991 to 1999 member of the Legal Advisers' District Chamber Council in Cracow. Until 27 October 2006 member of the District Bar Chamber in Cracow and of the District Chamber of Legal Advisers in Cracow

In October 2006 the Sejm of the Republic of Poland appointed him judge of the Constitutional Tribunal.