1. For Immediate Release: April 21, 2015
Media contacts:
Nikoleta Morales, 773-750-1616, nikoleta.kravchenko@gmail.com
Robert Gutierrez, 312-719-7006, agutier646@aol.com
MEDIA ADVISORY
Retired judge Michele F. Lowrance will receive the prestigious 2015 Samuel S.
Berger Award
Chicago, IL - On April 25, retired judge Michele F. Lowrance will receive the prestigious Samuel S.
Berger Award, which is given to attorneys and judges who exemplify the highest standards of integrity,
courtesy, knowledge of family law and the extraordinary ability to solve human problems. The award
ceremony will take place at 6:30 pm at the Ritz Carlton at 160 E. Pearson St. in Chicago.
Currently, Lowrance serves as a mediator within the family law practice area and has never lost a
mediation case. In 2014, she joined JAMS, the largest private provider of mediation and arbitration
services worldwide. “Judge Lowrance’s in-depth understanding of family law and her empathetic
approach to resolving disputes make her an excellent fit to our esteemed panel of neutrals,” said JAMS
President and CEO Chris Poole.
Lowrance is the author of the best-selling book The Good Karma Divorce (2010), co-author of Parental
Alienation 911 and the New Love Deal. She has been a guest on Good Morning America, the CBS
Morning Show, ABC, WLS, WGN, CNN, WTTW, NPR, Disorder in the Court, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Panel Discussion, EXTRA, American Justice with Bill Kurtis, Milt Rosenberg and many other radio
and TV shows. She is currently a co-host of radio’s “Family Matters.” Lowrance also co-wrote the
Cook County Focus on Children Film that is coming out in May 2015.
Lowrance’s parents divorced before she turned 3. She listened to them fight because neither wanted to
be burdened with her. That's why she developed an intense sensitivity and protectiveness for the
children of divorce and the people going through it. She had seen too much destruction of families and
children, and decided that she can make a change. As a mediator, she has tasked every husband and
wife assigned to her court with implementing her ideas before they proceed with their case. Since that
time, every single divorce case she’s overseen has avoided trial.
Lowrance loves writing books, sci-fi, poetry and is a frequent blogger for the Huffington Post. She
created a program called Good Karma Lawyering Skills, which teaches lawyers advanced
communication, negotiation and mediation skills. This program has been taught locally and
internationally to both bar associations and law firms.
Lowrance is currently working on finishing her next book.
WHAT: The prestigious 2015 Samuel S. Berger Awards, which recognize attorneys and judges who
exemplify the highest standards of integrity, courtesy, knowledge of family law and the extraordinary
ability to solve human problems.
2. WHO: This year's award will be given to retired judge Michele F. Lowrance who currently serves as a
mediator within the family law practice area and has never lost a mediation case. Lowrance has been a
Domestic Relations Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County since 1995 and spent 20 years as a
domestic relations lawyer.
WHY: To recognize her excellency and outstanding service as a judge, attorney and mediator.
WHEN: April 25; 6:30 pm
WHERE: Ritz Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St., Chicago
About Judge Michele Lowrance:
Lowrance has been a Domestic Relations Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County since 1995 and
spent 20 years as a domestic relations lawyer. She received her B.A. in Sociology from Roosevelt
University, and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. She has been the keynote speaker at
the Georgia Bar Association’s Annual Conference (2011), North Dakota Bar Annual Conference
(2010), American Bar Association Family Law Section Annual Conference (2010). She has been
involved with mediation training through Harvard Law School and continues to train through Harvard
Advanced Negotiation Training.
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Nikoleta Morales
Gutierrez Productions, Inc.
676 N. LaSalle St. Suite 408
Chicago IL, 60654
Office: 312-266-5911
Fax: 312-266-5920
Cell: 312-719-7006
