Manchester Attorney Wins Democratic Nod For 13th Probate District Judge

MANCHERSTER, CT — Manchester attorney Thomas Robinson was nominated Thursday as the Democratic candidate for probate judge in Connecticut’s 13th Probate District, which includes Manchester, Andover, Bolton and Columbia. Robinson received the endorsement at a convention of delegates from the district’s four towns held at the Manchester Country Club. Voters will choose a new probate judge in November with the retirement of Judge Michael Darby.

Robinson said, “I am honored to have the support of the Democratic Party for my effort to be elected as our next probate judge. I’ve devoted my legal career to helping families navigate the kinds of challenging issues that come before this court. As a result, I am confident that I can serve our community with fairness, compassion, and integrity.”

The Connecticut Probate Court system includes 54 probate courts across the state. According to the source material, each court’s jurisdiction extends to the legal affairs of the deceased, estates, some aspects of family law and children’s matters, conservatorships, and several other matters requiring specific legal decisions.

Robinson is a Manchester native and a graduate of the town’s public schools. He holds degrees from Trinity College in Hartford and Tulane Law School in New Orleans. He is a partner in the Manchester law firm of Falkenstein, Meggers, Paul and Robinson, and for almost 30 years his practice has focused on the kinds of issues handled by probate court.

He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Probate Section of the Connecticut Bar Association. The source material also says he has served as chairman of the Manchester Board of Education and head election moderator for the Manchester Registrar of Voters. He also serves on the Bennet Housing Corporation and the Manchester Scholarship Foundation.

Robinson said, “The work of the probate court is focused on protecting our most vulnerable friends, neighbors, family and many other deserving individuals at times when emotions can run high and challenging decisions must be made.” He added, “I believe I have the subject matter and procedural expertise, the depth of experience, and the necessary temperament, to ensure that our probate court provides an effective forum in which parties and their attorneys are treated with respect and courtesy and positive and helpful outcomes can be reached,”

Manchester Democratic Town Chairman Michael Pohl said, “Tom Robinson will provide our probate court with strong leadership, a sense of compassion, and solid judgment. Anyone in this district who has business in our probate court will benefit from Tom’s presence there.”

The probate judge seat will be on the ballot in November.