Judge Daniel O’Grady: July 29 statement

In January 2011, the probate courts of Bethel, Newtown, Redding and Ridgefield will merge to form a regional court which will be located in Bethel. I have been the probate judge in Bethel since 1991 and had the privilege of designing and organizing this court.

How will the consolidation affect you? All probate services will be offered in Bethel. During my tenure in office, I have traveled to hospitals, nursing homes and other town halls to provide probate services. If elected regional judge, I would continue to offer services in the surrounding towns on a regular schedule based on the needs of the people. It is my intention to make the court as accessible as possible to those who need to use it.

Better service for the public? Certainly. All of the files and personnel of the other courts will be relocated to Bethel. The court will be fully staffed and open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. I have been working closely with state officials and the clerks in the area probate courts to ensure a smooth transition for the merger. We are on schedule and ahead of most other courts in our preparation for the future.

Initially the new judge needs to be full time. The first six months will be spent organizing operations. Court personnel, files and information contained in the State of Connecticut computer system from each town need to be evaluated and fully integrated. After that, the court should be running like any other large probate district. Judges are on call 24 hours per day. Their first priority is the probate district they serve. My law office is across the street from the court. I have always gone to the court daily and have always been available at a moment’s notice.

Judge O’Grady is one of three Republicans seeking the party’s nomination to run for the judge of probate post for the new probate district that includes Redding, Ridgefield, Bethel and Newtown.