Harry Bodine is being recommended for parole after serving 30 years for attempting to kill county judge Howard Broadman
VISALIA – California’s justice system is recommending probation for a man who attempted to kill a local judge in the 1990s.
The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office announced last Wednesday, July 14, that the California Parole Board has recommended parole for Harry Bodine, 75, of Visalia. Bodine has been incarcerated since 1992 for the attempted murder of now retired Tulare County Superior Court Judge Howard Broadman. Bodine is currently housed at High Desert State Prison.
On May 4, 1991, Bodine entered Judge Broadman’s Visalia courtroom carrying a briefcase. As the court was in session, Bodine rose from his seat in the public gallery and fired a single shot from a .357 Magnum revolver at Judge Broadman, who was seated on the bench. The shot missed and Bodine was immediately taken in to custody. It was discerned through investigation and at trial that Bodine was upset at Judge Broadman over a decision to allow a defendant probation if she used a birth control implant. Bodine had no connection to the defendant or any party in that case.
In 1992, a jury convicted Bodine of attempted murder of a government official, attempted murder, possession of a weapon in a courtroom and second-degree burglary. The court sentenced him to 18 years to life.
This was Bodine’s sixth parole hearing. The office of the district attorney routinely attends life parole hearings and prosecutors argued against the inmate’s release in this case.
