Letters Of Endorsement

To the Editor:

The Connecticut Probate Court system will be consolidated from 117 to 54 courts. A Probate Redistricting Commission has decided that Newtown, Bethel, Ridgefield, and Redding will form a regional court system. This consolidation will result in a court that services approximately 78,000 individuals. Acknowledging that there are individuals who are not attorneys, but have however acquired the skills to perform the duties of a probate judge, the following was included to Public Act 09114 : Section 15(e) “ Each judge of probate elected for a term that begins on or after January 5, 2011, shall be a member of the bar of the state of Connecticut, except that the requirements of this subsection shall not apply to any judge of probate who was in office on January 4, 2011, for the period such judge of probate continues to serve as a judge of probate on and after January 5, 2011, without a break in service.” Although the statute acknowledges that the job of probate judge will be filled in the future by those individuals who are attorneys, this clause has been provided to grandfather individuals who, through work experience, have developed the skills necessary to fulfill such duties.

 Newtown is one of two Connecticut towns requiring a special election this year. Both towns have judges that fall under the mandatory age retirement law. Should Ms Jepsen win the November 2009 Newtown probate judge election, then in November 2010, she, who has been “grandfathered in” may, along with any lawyer qualified to practice Connecticut law, seek election for the regionalized probate judge position. It is this November 2010 election that will decide who will begin a four-year term January 5, 2011, as regional probate judge.

Margaret “Peggy” Jepsen has served as clerk of the Newtown Probate Court for the past 18 years and an additional five years prior to that as assistant clerk. She has been employed and serving Newtown for 23 years in the Probate Court system. Peg has been legally grandfathered by CT Public Act 09114 to run for Newtown Probate Judge because she falls under the criteria of one who has learned the skills necessary to fulfill such duties. The people of Newtown should vote for Ms Jepsen allowing her to continue to serve the people of our town for the next 14 months as she has for the last two decades. She is professional and courteous in her duties and is a “window” for Newtown. She is a point of stability in a position that deals with sensitive issues. She is kind and positive and caring. I have known Margaret Jepsen for 14 years and I endorse her for probate judge.

Ann Marie Mitchell

PO Box 171 Hawleyville                                             October 28, 2009