1

Members of the staff of the Saybrook Probate District Court: Stella Beaudoin, Marge Callthrap, Jackie Craco, Honorable Jeannine Lewis, Honorable Paul Knierim, Valerie Shickel, Helene Yates, Sharon Tiezzi. Not pictured: Peggy Schroeder. (Photo courtesy of Laura Matesky)

On Jan. 7, Jeannine Lewis was sworn in for a four-year term as the judge of probate for the Saybrook Probate District in a ceremony held at the Probate Court at the Old Saybrook Town Hall in Old Saybrook. The swearing-in was performed by Judge Paul J. Knierim, chief probate court administrator for Connecticut. Lewis was re-elected in November 2018 in an uncontested race after winning the November 2017 special election to fill the remaining term of Terrence B. Lomme, who retired in July 2018. The Saybrook Probate District encompasses the towns of Chester, Clinton, Essex, Deep River, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Saybrook and Westbrook.

Since she began her tenure as judge of probate in July, in addition to her duties at the court, Judge Lewis has joined the Continuing Legal Education and Conservatorship Standards Committees of the Probate Court Assembly. She is also a contributing author to two publications offered by the Office of the Probate Court Administrator: a manual used to help train court-appointed attorneys on how to properly represent compromised clients in probate court and a guidebook titled Connecticut Standards of Practice for Conservators.

“Serving as judge of probate has been a humbling experience and has given me a great appreciation for the role I play in assisting people to solve difficult problems that can have far-reaching effects on their lives,” Lewis said.