The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-10-27

vieorous defense of his admin lstfation as Probate Judge of the nnst six years was delivered by Iudae Patrick Healey In c radio Addfees last evening.
 Tn answer Co charges brought by 0pponekts, Judge Healey, who seeks tononalnatiun co Democratic candl- dnte, declared the "book to bo an open onen and that mo one can uay that I, As a-judge, have fave red any one lawyer or any other porBon."
 Declaring, in answer to charges that he favored continuance of the preseat probate free system, the 0udge declared in his address that, VI registered the opinion that the feo system should be abolished long aso before the Judicial Study Ccmmission and its Probate Com xnittee.
 "And in passing" he added, Yet me remark that no other per- con from this district was interest. cd sufficiently Go appear before that appropriate body to express any opinion whatsoever"
 The full text of Judge Healeys address follows:
 The Probate Court is moro inc portant to more people than any other Court and Rll other courts combined. Resort to other courts 1e more or less within the control of each endividual. But almost every person, sooner or later, must have business to transact in the Probate Court.
 Connecticut has been building its probate system for 300 years SO that tts people have many advantages not known in other states. Our probate courts are local in character, end have on accessibility, simplicity pnd informality which yield c max tIm,.m of service and convenience, Q W1niinutn of delays and annoy- niiooA and an overall economy of time end money for the people who lieo them.
 The Probate Court in Connecticut definitely is Q people court and not . lawyers' court
 However, aS with oil fliAiisiflAde lnstitutionS, there is room for ifn- provement One such improvement would be to abolish the fee basis for compensating the judge and to put him on the same basis aS Q judge of any other court of comparable responsibilities -- on q fixed salary, with continuing tenure in office, with security Of retirement provis- ion. and with consequently guaran- teed Independence of oil personal and political considerations.
 registered this opinion long ago beiore the Judicial Study Comnig- sion and It's Probate Committee And In passing, let mo remark that Ilo other person from thlS District was Interested sufficiently Co appear before that appropriate body to ex- pres Bany opinion whatever.
 So much for the probate system aii general.
 40 to my conduct Of the Water. bury Probate Court under that SyS. tom, during these six years l have enG1oavorod in every phase Of every case to help the families to find the best, the simplest and the most eco- llCtnical solutions to their problems
 Never once have created an exs pense. Never once have I inanipu. inted or tolerated any situation to tho end that might make an ap. pointnaent
 Where appointments Of appraiS- CTS or others have been iiecessi- tated by law and circumstance, my uniform and consistent practice has boon to name persons selected by tho parties themselyeg, unless prop. er and controlling reasons otherwise dictated. In all cases. the nominees were acceptable to all concerned.
 If and when compensation Is paid