Nicole K. Bowman

I am writing this review regarding my experience with Nicole Bowman as my public defender. Throughout my three-year case, I found her representation to be deeply disappointing and lacking in basic professionalism. Ms. Bowman was consistently inaccessible and refused to engage in any meaningful commu...nication. Instead of providing hands-on support, she relied almost exclusively on Zoom for all proceedings, never making the effort to appear in person. Her approach felt dismissive, and I never felt that my case was being given the strategic attention it required. I took the time to provide Ms. Bowman with my history, specifically to show that I have always been a law-abiding citizen and a leader of men in the construction industry here in Hawaii. Rather than utilizing this information to advocate for me, she told me to "follow the process," and when I pushed for better representation, she threatened to quit. Throughout these interactions, she made me feel completely belittled, treating me as if I were not worthy of her time rather than a client deserving of respect and competent defense. In fact, when the Judge asked me to contact Ms. Bowman I said that I never spoke to her. Everyone thought it was my old age and memory but truly I think I spoke to Ms Bowman maybe 2x. She never made a plan for my defense. We just showed up and let the cards fall as they may. This lack of support was particularly frustrating when compared to the other public defenders involved in my legal situation. Those attorneys were incredibly communicative and kept me informed every single step of the way. Ultimately, the dismissal of the case was achieved through the recommendations of mental health advocates and outside experts, not due to any effort or strategy from Ms. Bowman. The mental health experts were engaged and helpful unlike Ms. Bowman who was disconnected from the process entirely. If you are looking for an attorney who will actually communicate with you and advocate for you, I strongly recommend looking for representation elsewhere.