OttawaDisgraced criminal defence lawyer James Bowie’s licence to practise was revoked Monday during a hearing of the Law Society Tribunal, CBC News has learned.Licence revoked Monday during hearing, Law Society Tribunal confirmsKristy Nease · CBC News · Posted: Dec 02, 2025 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 5 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.James Bowie enters the Ottawa Courthouse on March 18, where he was found guilty of extortion, uttering death threats and criminal harassment. (CBC)Disgraced criminal defence lawyer James Bowie’s licence to practise was revoked Monday during a hearing of the Law Society Tribunal, CBC News has learned.Bowie was convicted in March of death threats, criminal harassment and extortion involving an ex-client and a former close friend. In September, he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. He has been denied bail pending an appeal of those convictions.James Bowie gets 4 years imprisonment for threatening ex-client, extortion, harassment Disgraced lawyer James Bowie denied bail pending appeal of his convictionsThe Law Society Tribunal is an independent adjudicative tribunal that processes, hears and decides regulatory cases between the Law Society of Ontario and its lawyers and paralegals “in a manner that is fair, just and in the public interest,” according to its website.At a virtual case conference in October, Law Society Tribunal panel chair Malcolm Mercer directed that the disciplinary hearing could proceed in Bowie’s absence because he’s in prison. Bowie had been unrepresented in the matter since July, after his lawyer successfully argued to be removed as counsel.’It’s very validating,’ victim’s lawyer saysEmilie Taman, who represented Bowie’s victim Leanne Aubin during Bowie’s criminal trial, attended the hearing Monday along with about 10 other members of the public. Bowie did not attend and did not have counsel present.The allegations against him were read into the record, the panel then adjourned for about 20 minutes before coming back and finding that the allegations were founded. Law Society of Ontario counsel Chad Skinner made submissions that Bowie’s licence should be immediately revoked, and after a brief recess the panel made that order.”Our client went through a lot to get to this point,” Taman said. “The events that unfolded after making [her] complaint were serious and upsetting and traumatizing for her.””So to see that the Law Society’s mandate to protect the public has been finally executed, following her complaint and all the complaints that flowed from her initial complaint, I know it’s very validating,” she said.Bowie has the option of applying for judicial review of the tribunal’s ruling in Divisional Court.ABOUT THE AUTHORCBC Ottawa senior writer Kristy Nease has covered news in the capital for 16 years, and previously worked at the Ottawa Citizen. She has handled topics including intimate partner violence, climate and health care, and is currently focused on the courts and judicial affairs for all platforms. Get in touch: kristy.nease@cbc.ca, or 613-288-6435. Worried? Try kristyneasecbc@proton.me instead.Selected stories.Follow her on X.
Disgraced lawyer James Bowie’s licence to practise revoked
