Leo Bowman
| Leo Bowman | |
| Current Court Information: | |
| 6th Circuit Court, Michigan | |
| Title: | Judge |
| Service: | |
| Appointed by: | Gov. Jennifer Granholm |
| Active: | Deborah Tyner |
| Past post: | Michigan 50th Judicial District Court Judge |
| Past term: | 1989 - 2007 |
| Personal History | |
| Bachelors: | Oakland University, 1976 |
| Law School: | University of Detroit Law School, 1981 |
| Candidate 2012: | |
| Candidate for: | 6th Circuit Court |
| State: | Michigan |
| Election information 2012: | |
| Incumbent: | Yes |
| Primary date: | August 7, 2012 |
Contents |
Leo Bowman is a judge of the 6th Circuit Court in Oakland County, Michigan. He was appointed to this position by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on January 17, 2007 to replace former Judge Deborah Tyner. He was the first African American man to serve as a permanent member of the Circuit Court bench. He was elected in 2008 to a partial term that ends on January 1, 2013.[1][2][3]
2012 election
Bowman is one of seven candidates competing for five seats in the primary election on August 7, 2012. [4]
- See also: Michigan judicial elections, 2012
Education
Bowman received his B.A. degree from Oakland University in 1976 and his J.D. degree from the University of Detroit Law School in 1981.[5]
Legal career
Bowman worked as a legal advisor for the Pontiac City Council prior to his election to the 50th Judicial District Court in 1988. In 1998 and 2000, he was also selected as a Drug Court Judge for the Circuit Court. He served on the 50th District Court until he was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2007.[1][3][5]
Awards and Associations
Bowman serves on the Board of Directors for the American Judges Association Board of Governors and the Oakland County Bar Association. He has received the Ronald H. Brown Excellence in Leadership Award from the Pontiac Urban League and the Northern Oakland NAACP’s Community Treasurer’s Award.[5]
Notable rulings
Mother ordered to jail after arriving late to jury duty
Bowman has come under media and official criticism for his heavy-handed treatment of potential jurors, and has been verbally warned and been given written warnings to stop levying punishments against potential jurors who attempt to provide reasons for being excused from jury duty. In 2010 he ordered a mother of small children who could not find child care for them, and was late for jury duty, to sit as an observer for the entirety of a two-week murder trial, and additionally told her she would be jailed for 24 hours at the end of the trial. Previously, he had jailed a medical student who asked to be excused because the trial would affect his midterms, and a businessowner who had asked to be excused because his business was under a deadline. Bowman released the mother after the Michigan State Court Administrative Office sent a letter to the judge saying he had no authority to act as he had, and threatening sanctions if he didn’t stop. [6][7][8]
External links
- Michigan Trial Courts Directory: Oakland County
- Oakland University, "Judge rules in favor of his alma mater," June 23, 2006
- Cooley.edu, Judge Leo Bowman
- The Oakland Press, "Judge warned about ordering non-jurors to sit through trials," March 3, 2010
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Michigan.gov: Former Governors, "Granholm Appoints Bowman Judge of the 6th Circuit Court", January 17, 2007
- ↑ Michigan 2008 Election Results: 6th Circuit Court Incumbent
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Oakland County: Hon. Leo Bowman
- ↑ Michigan Department of State, 2012 Unofficial Michigan Primary Candidate Listing
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Thomas M. Cooley Law School, "'Integrity In Our Communities' Series To Feature Judge Leo Bowman," March 17, 2008
- ↑ The New York Times: Parenting, "Jailed for Taking Kids to Jury Duty," March 8, 2010
- ↑ ABC News, "Michigan Mom Ordered to Jail After Being Late for Jury Duty," March 6, 2010
- ↑ The Oakland Press, "Judge warned about ordering non-jurors to sit through trials," March 3, 2010
