On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the California Commission on Judicial Performance publicly admonished retired Judge Robert S. Bowers of the Solano County Superior Court for misconduct during a homicide case.
The commission identified four instances of improper conduct by Bowers while presiding over the case. First, he inappropriately encouraged a Marsden motion, disrupting the attorney-client relationship. Second, he made derogatory comments about a defense attorney, creating an appearance of bias and potential retaliation for the attorney’s motion to disqualify him. Third, he discussed attorney substitution with another lawyer, which conveyed the appearance of embroilment, bias, prejudgment, and abuse of authority. Fourth, he mishandled a disqualification statement.
The commission noted that Bowers’s actions were particularly serious due to prior disciplinary measures, including a private admonishment and an advisory letter.
Judge Bowers was a judge of the Solano County Superior Court from 2003 to November 2024. His last term began in 2023.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
