McGOWAN was elected to The Domestic Relations Division of the Lucas County Common Pleas Court in November 2014. Her term on the bench began Jan.1, 2015 and expires Dec.31, 2020. Her previous experience is listed below. EXPERIENCE
Bar Admission State of Ohio - admitted May 17, 1993
Federal - admitted to Northern District of Ohio September 10, 1993
admitted to United States Court of Appeals, Sixt
h Circuit May 24, 1999
Professional Magistrate, Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division
Employment January 2012 - Present
Handle motion docket in pending and post-divorce cases, including custody, parenting time, spousal support, child support, and contempt actions. Hear final divorces and dissolutions. Handle a minimum of one Domestic Violence docket per week. Conduct research and prepare all necessary Magistrate Decisions, Orders, and Judgment Entries. Staff Attorney, The Honorable David E. Lewandowski
December 1999 - December 2011
-Legal Responsibilities
Conducted research and assisted in the preparation and drafting of decisions, judgment entries and orders in divorce and child custody cases. Attended all pre-trial and final settlement conferences, hearings, and trials. Prepared all case notes for Judge Lewandowski’s review. Conducted mediations on behalf of the Court in selected cases as assigned by Judge Lewandowski.
-Administrative Responsibilities
Reviewed, updated, and maintained monthly report of cases pending beyond time guidelines as received from the Assignment Commissioner and the Supreme Court of Ohio. Maintained and updated trial docket notebook. Managed and supervised Court legal extern program. Conducted interviews of potential legal externs. Managed Court library, including budgeting and ordering of publications. Worked closely with Court Administrator’s Office on matters involving Judge Lewandowski’s office. Screened all motions, objections, and other miscellaneous filings for rule compliance and docket management. Responded to inquiries from staff, attorneys, litigants, and the public. As former bailiff, managed uncontested and contested divorce and dissolution case dockets for Judge Lewandowski and two visiting judges serving by assignment. Reviewed all motions, orders, and judgment entries for compliance with law and local court rules prior to submission to Judge Lewandowski or appropriate visiting judge. Assisted in the appointment of counsel for indigent defendants. Executed a wide variety of case management functions. Reader, Ohio Bar Examination, Ohio Board of Governors, Supreme Court of Ohio
July 1997 - Present
Appointed by Justice Alice Robie Resnick
Read and grade Bar Examination Essays and Multistate Performance Tests. PAST PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Attorney, Law Offices of Handwork & Associates, Perrysburg, Ohio
Employment July 1999 - November 1999
Represented clients in the general practice of law, including corporate, civil litigation, criminal defense, employment, domestic relations, unemployment compensation, probate, bankruptcy, collection, and real estate. Attorney, Spitler & Williams-Young Co., L.P.A., Toledo, Ohio
November 1997 - June 1999
Established employment law practice area for law firm representing plaintiffs in workers’ compensation, personal injury, probate, and social security disability law. Represented plaintiffs in all areas of employment law including, but not limited to, discrimination,
harassment, wrongful discharge, and employee benefits. Counsel, Centerior Energy Corporation / Toledo Edison Company, Toledo, Ohio
January 1994 - October 1997
Represented Corporation in all areas of civil litigation, including employment,
workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, bankruptcy, probate,
collection, property damage, and personal injury. Responsible for handling all
Labor Relations matters, including Labor Arbitration hearings. Assistant Public Defender, Public Defender's Office, Toledo, Ohio
June 1993 - December 1993
Represented clients in court during adult misdemeanor proceedings. Prepared all
necessary briefs, pre-trial, and post-trial motions. Legal Consultant, The Toledo Edison Company, Toledo, Ohio
April 1993 - December 1993
Conducted research and wrote legal memoranda on a project basis. Judicial Law Clerk, The Honorable Peter M. Handwork
March 3 - April 8, 1993
Sixth District Court of Appeals of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio
Conducted research and assisted in the preparation and drafting of decisions. Hired as a full-time interim clerk to replace a judicial law clerk who was on leave. As former legal intern for Judge Handwork, screened notices of appeal, briefs and records for compliance with rules. EDUCATION
JURIS DOCTOR, December 1992
The University of Toledo College of Law, Toledo, Ohio
Honors: Recipient of the Dean's Award for the Winter class of 1992
B.A. MANAGEMENT / ACCOUNTING, May 1989
Hartwick College, Oneonta, New York
LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS
Ohio Association of Magistrates, 2012 - Present
Toledo Bar Association, 1993 - Present
Organizations - Fee Arbitration Committee 2002-2012
- Board of Trustees, Ex-officio 2001-2002
- Membership Committee 2001-2004
- Young Lawyers Committee 1993-2001
*Secretary 1999-2000
- Legal Lore and More Committee 1998-2000
* Secretary 1998-1999
- Project 2000 (Ethics) 1998-1999
- Nominating Committee 1997-1998
- Lawyer To Lawyer Program 1995-1998
- Law Day Committee 1994-1997
* Secretary 1996-1997
Toledo Women's Bar Association, 1993 - Present
- Secretary 1999-2001
- Immediate Past President 1998-1999
- President 1997-1998
- President-Elect 1996-1997
- Vice President 1995-1996
- Mentor Program Chairman 1994-1995
Toledo Junior Bar Association, 1993 - Present
- Immediate Past-President 2002-2003
- President 2001-2002
- Secretary/Treasurer 2000-2001
- Executive Committee 1995-2003
University of Toledo College of Law Alumni Association
- Governing Board 1996-2001
* Women in the Profession Committee 1997-1998
* Special Events Committee 1995-1997
- Chairman 1996-1997
* Reunion Planning Committee 1997
* Nominations Committee 1996
- Executive Committee 1998-1999
COMMUNITY
St. Pius X School Advisory Council, 2010-2014
Organizations - Immediate Past President 2013-2014
- President 2012-2013
- Vice-President 2011-2012
Board Member, Adelante
Board Member, Autism Society of Northwest Ohio
Maria Early Learning Center
Parent Advisory Council 2009-2010
Josina Lott Foundation
Board of Directors 2000-2002
Senior Centers, Inc., Toledo, Ohio
Board of Directors 1997-2000
* Secretary 1998-2000
SOCIAL
Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity
Organizations Toledo Area Alumnae Chapter, Toledo, Ohio
- Past President 2000-2002
- President 1998-2000
- Treasurer 1994-1997
Theta Psi Chapter, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio
- Chapter Relations Advisor 1995-1996
- Chapter Advisor 1994-1995
