Background
Judge Michael Panter writes the
mediation column for IRMI.com.
Before becoming a busy mediator with ADR Systems in Chicago, Judge Panter
presided over civil jury trials, motions, and hundreds of pretrials, taught law
school, and was an active trial lawyer for 38 years. As a judge, he settled
many types of cases, including medical malpractice claims, construction
accidents, motor vehicle accidents, and commercial cases involving contracts
along with property damage and fire subrogation. Prior to becoming a judge, he
was an active trial lawyer with his own law firm for about 30 years.
Immediately prior to becoming a judge, Judge Panter was a full-time faculty
member at DePaul University College of Law where he founded DePaul’s Litigation
Lab, a hands-on educational program for law students that has been the subject
of numerous articles.
He is a member of the American Bar Association and various committees,
including serving as vice-chairman of the Tort Trial and Insurance Section as
well as on the Commercial Litigation Subcommittees, the Judicial Section, the
Section on Litigation, and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section.
Judge Panter received his bachelor of arts at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison and his juris doctor from DePaul University College of
Law.