There is a Republican primary Tuesday for an open Probate Court Judge seat. The Northern Fairfield County Probate Court Judge position is on the ballot because Judge Joseph Egan is leaving office in October when he reaches the mandated retirement age of 70.
Unaffiliated and new voters have until noon Monday to enroll in the Republican party in order to vote in the primary. It is too late to switch parties. Connecticut has a 90-day waiting period to participate in votes after changing affiliation between parties. There is no same day registration in Connecticut for primaries.
The Court serves about 80,000 people in Ridgefield, Redding, Newtown, and Bethel.
Bethel Town Treasurer, former Bethel Probate Court Judge Daniel O'Grady and Ridgefield Attorney Patrick Walsh are competing to be the GOP candidate in November. The winner will then face Democratic nominee Sharon Dornfeld and petitioning candidate Jennifer Collins.
Walsh practices law with the firm of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh LLP. He served three years on the Zoning Board of Appeals and the last 12 years as a Planning and Zoning commissioner. He has represented people in a variety of probate matters.
O’Grady served as Bethel’s probate judge for 20 years before the court system was consolidated. He has owned a private law practice for 30 years.
Collins has served as a magistrate and commissioner of small claims court for six years. She is the founder and managing member of Collins & Associates LLC.
Dornfeld has been an attorney in private practice, and a sole practitioner since 1988. She has also served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in Danbury since 1991.
