Former Ledyard Probate Judge Throws Hat in Ring

Ellin Grenger doesn’t see herself as a politician. As a candidate for Judge of Probate, that’s probably a good thing, she says.

“The job is about taking a look at everyone’s interests and making a decision based on the best interests of everyone involved,” said Grenger, who lives in Gales Ferry. “Politics should never be an influence. It comes down to what people want and what the law requires.”

Grenger speaks from experience, having served a term as Ledyard Judge of Probate, from January 2007 until this past January, when the state consolidated Ledyard, Groton, Stonington and North Stonington into a regional district.

Had Grenger, a Democrat, been more of a politician, she might have campaigned for the regional post last fall. She said she declined in deference to the late Frederick W. Palm Jr., a long-time friend and colleague. Instead, she chose to devote more time to her law practice.

Palm’s untimely death, however, has set off a stampede of candidates for the post. “It’s a pretty broad field,” she said, including a number of Democrats. A party convention is scheduled for April 30 in North Stonington. A primary would take place on June 21.

The special election for Judge of Probate is scheduled for Aug. 16.

Grenger notes that of all the candidates thus far, she alone has experience as a probate judge. In addition, she is a child welfare law specialist, having been certified in 2009.  She believes this expertise has been particularly useful in her work as sitting judge at at New London Regional Children’s Court, dealing with all probate matters concerning minor children, such as custody and guardianship, visitation and paternal rights. 

Grenger also is the only candidate for Judge of Probate from Ledyard. Although a Democrat, she says she was a registered Independent for years before joining the party in order to become more involved in public affairs.

“Probate judge is the only elected judgeship in the state,” she said, adding that she would like it better if the post were appointed, as with other judicial posts.

Even so, Grenger demonstrated her political competence when she ran for the Ledyard job, defeating Republican Bob Simpson. “I got a lot of votes,” she said.

And she has a campaign slogan that she hopes will cause voters to stop and take notice: “I did it, and I did it well.”

“It’s true,” she said. “During my four years as probate judge in Ledyard, things ran very smoothly. The paperwork associated with the various cases was always kept up to date. There was never any controversy.”

Grenger is married and her husband, Robert, is employed at Electric Boat as a software developer. They have two children.

She has made her reputation as a child protection attorney, but said she loved being Ledyard’s probate judge.

“I loved the variety, but mostly I loved being able to make someone’s day better,” she said. “You can do that as a lawyer, but often as a lawyer you’re giving advice that people don’t want to hear. As probate judge, you can make a decision.”