Attorney General Not Ready to Charge Solano County Judge Accused of Domestic Violence

By Bay City News

The California Attorney General's Office does not intend to prosecute Solano County Superior Court Judge Robert S. Bowers for domestic violence pending further investigation, Bowers' attorney said Friday afternoon.

Attorney Amy Morton said Friday that Supervising Deputy Attorney General Joyce Blair told her she needs more time to investigate and that prosecutors are not ready to proceed.

Bowers was scheduled to appear in Solano County Superior Court Monday morning. Blair said late Friday afternoon she filed the notice Thursday and that she would not appear in court Monday.

Bowers was arrested near the Solano County Courthouse around 1 a.m. April 11 on suspicion of felony domestic violence against his wife at their Vallejo home on April 10. She reported the incident to police around 11 p.m.

Bassett said a weapon was not involved in the alleged assault. Bowers' wife suffered a "minor injury" but the incident "met the qualifications" of a felony assault, Vallejo police Sgt. Jeff Bassett said.

Attorney Dan Russo, who works with Morton, said Bowers "is completely innocent." He said the judge's wife fell on April 10 from the deck that was being built at their home.

Bowers was appointed to the bench in 2003 and is assigned to the Vallejo courthouse.