International justice crusader teaching law students at IUPUI

By Diane Brown

Bowman’s stint at IU School of Law–Indianapolis is associated with the establishment of the Center for International and Comparative Law. He wrote the indictment the U.N. filed charging Indonesian military officers with cooperating in the creation and administration of militia groups responsible for violence across East Timor during 1999.

Like the heroes of the Justice League cartoon series, Bowman fights for truth, justice and freedom around the world. His “superpowers” are his knowledge of the law and his zeal for bringing the bad guys to justice—and training others to do the same. While he isn’t quite sure where he’ll be called to duty next, Bowman—the architect of a Feb. 24 United Nations indictment charging eight top Indonesian military leaders with crimes against humanity—currently teaches criminal procedure to law students in Indianapolis.

Bowman is a visiting fellow with the IU School of Law-Indianapolis, located on the IUPUI campus near downtown Metropolis—make that downtown Indianapolis. He teaches a class of 23 students who are learning the ropes of American law.

Just months prior to coming to the IU School of Law, Bowman was hired as lead prosecutor in the U.N. case that involved atrocities against the civilian population of East Timor. Working fast and furious for three months, he wrote the indictment the U.N. filed charging Indonesian military officers with cooperating in the creation and administration of militia groups responsible for violence across East Timor during 1999.

The indictment culminated a two-year investigation into crimes against the civilian population of East Timor, which occupies part of an island in the Indonesian archipelago.

Those charged with crimes against humanity for murder, deportation and persecution included retired General Wiranto, former commander of the Armed Forces of Indonesia; six other senior military commanders; and Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, former governor of East Timor.

“The world has been waiting for a long time for someone to hold these leaders responsible,” said Bowman, whose international exploits include educational feats in Mongolia and Poland.

Documents in the U.N. indictment cover more than 280 murders in 10 separate attacks and are based on more than 1,500 witness statements and reports. The charges also stem from the deportation or forcible transport of approximately 200,000 people from East Timor to West Timor, an Indonesia state that shares the island with East Timor.

Prior to being hired by the U.N. for the East Timor case, Bowman spent almost two years teaching continuing education for judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys in Mongolia as a legal training adviser for a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) legal development project. He also has conducted similar training for attorneys and judges in Poland.

Bowman’s semester-long stint is associated with the establishment of the Center for International and Comparative Law at the school.

The center will enhance opportunities for students to gain international experiences. It will administer the school’s international programs, such as the Program in International Human Rights Law, the China Law Summer Program, the LL.M Program in American Law for Foreign Lawyers, and new student and faculty exchange programs with universities in Romania and Australia.

“The students benefit enormously through having contact with faculty, full time and adjunct, who are able to share their experiences acquired in the United States and abroad,” said Anthony Tarr, dean of the IU School of Law-Indianapolis. “Herb Bowman’s international exposure to the laws, cultural differences and problems in countries like East Timor and Mongolia equips him to make a major contribution to any comparative law study.”

Bowman, a graduate of the University of San Diego Law School, developed his legal expertise during 12 years as a San Diego County prosecutor. He hopes to continue in his role as international legal consultant once he completes his Indianapolis work. Until then, he’s training the next generation of prosecutors, judges and attorneys on the “Justice League” team that includes his brother, Frank Bowman, a professor at IU School of Law-Indianapolis.