FEATURE STORY
Maureen C. Onyeagbako is a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice.
One to Watch: Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael G. Bowman by Maureen C. Onyeagbako
If
you haven’t met Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Bowman’s dedication to work matches his dedicaJudge Michael G. Bowman yet, find a way to do tion to family, and he takes pride in seldom missing a dinner, so. He can tell a great story and has an even better sense soccer game, or piano recital even though it meant working of humor. Just ask him where he was when he got the call late nights, weekends, and holidays. He admits to having about his appointment to the bench and the game of phone been a “challenge” to live with all those years due to his diftag that followed. ficulty switching out of trial mode. That notwithstanding, Before his appointment in December 2013, Judge Bowhe and his wife Michelle – who refused to give him the time man spent 20 years working as a criminal defense attorney of day when they first met – have been married for over 23 throughout Northern California. His catalog of cases included years. His daughters, Chelsea, a hair salon owner, Payslie, a defending a serial rapist, a 16 year old who recent college graduate and perhaps future murdered his best friend, an Iraq war veterlawyer, and Olivia, a high school senior Judge Bowman’s an who killed a police officer while driving who enjoys singing and playing the piano, drunk, and several police officers charged all make Judge Bowman glow. advice to lawyers with criminal offenses. Judge Bowman also Adding yet another layer to all that appearing in his taught law enforcement for over 10 years makes Judge Bowman interesting is his on subjects ranging from applying for and dyslexia, which required him to develcourtroom: executing search warrants, defense tactics in op strong listening skills and a good rehomicide cases, and courtroom testimony, call of facts, both of which helped him “Be relevant. to name a few, with the belief that everyone as a trial attorney. Turning to the sketchBe honest. benefits from better-trained officers. es on a wall in his chambers depicting The judge believes that his promotion some of his most high profile cases, the Be brief.” to the bench was due in large part to his baljudge quipped, “I will have you know I ance – prior to criminal defense, he served have lost some of the biggest cases in this for five years as a deputy district attorney in Kern County – town.” All kidding aside, Judge Bowman has overcome and to support from both the prosecutorial and defense bars. several odds and learned how to succeed while not playJudge Bowman is also not afraid to roll up his sleeves and has ing under the normal set of rules. He believes that there been working since age thirteen in jobs that include dishwashis no substitute for preparation and says that every great er, cook, clerk at 7-11, and shoveling horse manure. While trial attorney has had at least one humbling experience in studying at Pacific McGeorge, he interned at the Department court. When he’s off the bench, Judge Bowman teaches of Fair Employment and Housing, during which time he tried community property at Lincoln Law School, participates administrative hearings around the state, and interned with in the Kennedy Inn of Court, or hangs out with his girls. the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. Congratulations, Judge Bowman.
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SACRAMENTO LAWYER | November/December 2014 2014| |www.sacbar.org www.sacbar.org