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Probate Judge Named to Regional Children’s Probate Court

East Haven-North Haven Probate District Judge Michael R. Brandt has been appointed as the administrative judge for the New Haven Regional Children’s Probate Court. The appointment became effective July 1, and Brandt will continue to serve as East Haven-North Haven probate judge in addition to his new appointment.

“I am honored to take on this role and plan to build on the outstanding record of Judge Frank Forgione and the first-rate staff at the New Haven Regional Children’s Probate Court,” Brandt said in a statement issued by the State of Connecticut Office of the Probate Court Adminstrator. “I thank Administrator Streit-Kefalas for the opportunity and her confidence, and I look forward to contributing to the important work at the court, which has been recognized nationally as an innovative model that helps families maintain safe and stable homes for their children.”

Brandt is Immediate Past President Judge of the Connecticut Probate Assembly and serves as a member of the Assembly’s Executive, Continuing Education, Planning, and Public Information Committees. A resident of North Haven, he was first elected Probate Judge in 2002.

The New Haven Regional Children’s Probate Court began as a pilot program in 2004 to address the growing complexities of vulnerable families and provide a supportive court process for them. In 2005, the Connecticut General Assembly designated New Haven as a permanent court and authorized establishing Regional Children’s Probate Courts around Connecticut. In addition to New Haven, Regional Children’s Probate Courts now operate in Hartford, Meriden, New London, Waterbury, and Putnam supported by state General Fund appropriations. As part of Regional Children’s Probate Court work, highly trained professional staff in child development and family relations hold family conferences and deploy other strategies to develop the best care plans for the child and provide support and long-term monitoring.

The New Haven Regional Children’s Probate Court serves 10 communities: Bethany, Branford, East Haven, Hamden, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, and West Haven. The court is located at 873 State Street in New Haven and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.