State Attorney General's Office Won't Prosecute Local Judge in Domestic Violence Case

Bay City News Service

The California Department of Justice will not file domestic violence charges against Solano County Superior Court Judge Robert Bowers.

Supervising Deputy Attorney General Joyce Blair sent a one-paragraph letter to Solano County District Attorney Don du Bain and defense attorney Dan Russo on Friday saying that Bowers won't be prosecuted.

"We're very happy with the decision. They did a real thorough investigation. The judge is relieved," Russo said this afternoon.

Vallejo police arrested Bowers on April 10 near the Solano County Courthouse on suspicion of assaulting his wife at their home the previous day.

Russo denied the allegations and said Bowers' wife had fallen from a deck that the couple was working on at their home at the time.

Vallejo police Sgt. Jeff Bassett said Bowers' wife suffered a minor injury, but that the alleged assault "met the qualifications of a felony offense."

The California Attorney General's Office said in April it would review the allegations against Bowers, who has been on the bench since 2003.

Bowers, who was hearing criminal matters at the time of his arrest, took some paid time off and has since been hearing civil matters while the investigation was carried out.

Russo said the judge will likely return to the court's criminal department.