Judge Ousted; Ruling Ended in 2 Deaths

A state panel ordered the removal of a judge who ignored a woman’s pleas for protection and helped release an ex-boyfriend, who later killed her. The Commission on Judicial Conduct found that Judge Lorin M. Duckman from 1991 through 1996 abused his powers, deliberately misapplied the law and showed a bias against prosecutors. Duckman was criticized for saying domestic violence should not be a crime, but the strongest anger arose from his January 1996 ruling that led to the release of Benito Oliver, who killed ex-girlfriend Galina Komar, 32, and himself weeks later. Oliver had been arrested for violating an order of protection and had been convicted of rape, drug use and weapon violations.