Region to Elect Judge of Probate Today

Voters in the four-town region that includes Ledyard, Groton, Stonington and North Stonington will elect a new Judge of Probate today, choosing between Democrat Nick Kepple and Republican Eric Janney.

In Ledyard, the polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ledyard Center School and at Juliet W. Long School in Gales Ferry.

The special election is being held to fill the position vacated when former regional Judge of Probate Frederick W. Palm Jr. died in March. Kepple and Janney emerged the victors in a six-way race that was decided by party primaries in June.

It has been a very civil campaign. At a forum held earlier this month in Mystic, each candidate spoke of the role their families played in teaching them the value of community service.  

“My mother, father, and wife...shaped my view of the world and in particular my view of the importance of community and service,” said Kepple, who grew up in Stonington and practices law there. “My whole adult life has prepared me to take on this position.”

Janney, a product of the Groton Public School system, grew up in Mystic and lives in Stonington. His law practice is in Mystic

Janney spoke of serving on boards of some of the area’s community organizations, such as the Mystic Chamber of Commerce, Groton Parks Foundation and Chelsea Groton Bank Foundation. “They offer an opportunity for us to participate in life in the community,” he said.

Both Janney and Kepple have years of legal experience dealing with probate matters. 

Janney’s practice has focused on such matters as estate planning, guardianship review, termination of rights and emancipation of minors.

Kepple has also focused on estate planning, guardianship and juvenile issues, but credited his work outside of probate issues such as working as a town attorney, serving as a selectman and working with planning and zoning for preparing him to be a regional judge of probate.

Watch for election results in Patch after the polls close.