Hon. Frederick J. Lower, Jr. Chair

Hon. Frederick J. Lower, Jr. Chair

The Hon. Frederick J. Lower’s close relationship with Loyola Law School began when he returned from service as a Marine Corp officer and enrolled in Loyola’s Evening Division. He earned his JD in 1964. He then began a trial and appellate litigation practice. In 1966, he returned to the classroom as an adjunct professor at the Law School. He joined the full-time faculty in 1968 and began teaching civil procedure, torts and insurance law.

In the following twenty-three years he was selected twice to serve as dean of Loyola Law School. Judge Lower was named Loyola’s 10th dean in 1973 and served until 1979. He served as dean during a critical time in the Law School’s growth and development. During his tenure he led the efforts to expand the campus and began to raise the financial resources to build it. The Law School acquired additional land and Frank Gehry became the campus project architect. Judge Lower created 15 Alumni Chapters throughout the U.S., and formed Loyola’s Board of Visitors (now known as the Board of Overseers), a group of distinguished men and women drawn from the legal and business communities who offered their counsel and assistance with outreach and fundraising. In addition to increasing the size of the faculty, Judge Lower also encouraged scholarly writing and curriculum reform.

Judge Lower served as interim dean in 1990. After 25 years of service to Loyola Law School, Judge Lower began a new career as a member of the judiciary. On January 4, 1991 family, colleagues, and friends gathered at the Law School to celebrate his swearing in as a judge of the Superior Court of California.

He is now retired from the court, enjoying time with Virginia, his wife of 56 years, and again participating in the education of Loyola Law students, now as a Judge-in-Residence for the Civil Litigation Practicum. The current holder of the chair is Ted Seto

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