SS>      A New York City judge who reduced bond for a domestic
SS> violence defendant who then murdered his estranged girl friend
SS> has been ordered stripped of his judgeship by the New York
SS> Commission on Judicial Conduct.
    Low bond is the rule in domestic-assault charges down here, mainly 
because judges see so many clearly frivolous cases brought before them.
SS>      Gov. George Pataki sought Duckman's removal from the bench
SS> after the murder of 32-year-old Galina Komar by Oliver Benito,
SS> 32, in February 1996.  Benito was freed after assaulting Ms.
SS> Komar when Judge Duckman reduced his bond over the objections of
SS> prosecutors.
    Bond hearings always involve bargaining in the absurd.  DAs want higher 
bond than they know they will settle for, and defense lawyers ask for less 
than they will settle for.  Jail overcrowding always influences it.
--- Simplex BBS (v1.07.00Beta [DOS])
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