James Bowie
Born1983
NationalityCanadian
OccupationLawyer
Known forCitizen journalism during the Canada convoy protest
Websitewww.jamesbowielaw.com

James Bowie (born 1983) is a Canadian lawyer specialising in criminal law, based in Ottawa. He was previously a political staffer for the Liberal Party of Canada.

He is best known for documenting the court appearances of people who protested at the Canada Convoy protest in 2022.

Early life[edit]

Bowie was born in 1983.[1]

Career[edit]

Bowie was licensed to practise law in Ontario in 2015 and launched his sole practise in 2020.[2] He works a sole-practitioner lawyer[3] based in Ottawa,[4] and specialising in criminal law.[5] He previous worked for the Liberal Party of Canada.[6]

He is best known for documenting via Twitter the evidence submissions of Canada Convoy protesters, including Tamara Lich at the 2022 Public Order Emergency Commission.[7][2] During the convoy protests, he also worked as television news pundit, he told the Law Society of Ontario that he had spoke on CTV, CBC News, and local radio.[3]

In June 2020, he offered free legal services to anyone arrested at an anti-racism protest in Ottawa.[5] In November 2022, Bowie was accused of providing legal services in exchange for sexual acts.[8] Three weeks later, the Law Society of Ontario seized his electronic devices as part of an investigation.[1] The next month, he was fined $5,000 and had his law license indefinitely suspended by the Law Society after failing to produce documentation and information requested by the society.[9] Earlier the same year, he practised law while his license was suspended.[3][2] Also in December 2022, but in unconnected circumstances, he was accused of offering cocaine and soliciting sexual contact with female clients.[10]

By February 2023, The Law Society had investigated Bowie's work three times, including investigating complaints about how he handled money held in trust for a client.[2]

Personal life[edit]

Bowie lives in the Glebe neighbourhood of Ottawa.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Dimmock, Gary (22 Dec 2022). "Investigators seize Ottawa lawyer's devices in probe of services-for-sex allegations". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  2. ^ a b c d Dimmock, Gary (2 Feb 2023). "Ottawa lawyer in legal services-for-sex scandal probed for mishandling money". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  3. ^ a b c Dimmock, Gary (14 Dec 2022). "Ottawa lawyer James Bowie blames Twitter fame for slow response to Law Society of Ontario complaint". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  4. ^ "James Bowie - Ottawa Lawyer". www.jamesbowielaw.com. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  5. ^ a b Dubé, Dani-Elle (5 June 2020). "Lawyer offers free legal services to anyone who is arrested at Ottawa's anti-racism march". CityNews. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  6. ^ Ballingall, Alex; MacCharles, Tonda (2019-03-29). "Jody Wilson-Raybould's secret audio recording sparks ethics questions from legal community". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  7. ^ Melnitzer, Julias (12 Dec 2022). "Ottawa lawyer James Bowie, accused of sexual misconduct, suspended by LSO in unrelated proceedings". Law Times. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  8. ^ Praill, Colton; Charron, Jeremie; Woods, Michael (2022-11-29). "'Shocking and disturbing:' Ottawa lawyer accused of sexual misconduct". CTV News. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  9. ^ Raymond, Ted (2022-12-09). "Embattled Ottawa lawyer James Bowie has law licence suspended". CTV News. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  10. ^ Praill, Colton; Woods, Michael (2022-12-06). "Embattled Ottawa lawyer James Bowie facing new accusations of harassment, manipulation, sexual assault". CTV News. Retrieved 2022-12-22.


External links[edit]