(West Hartford, CT) - Probate Court Administrator Beverly K. Streit-Kefalas has appointed the Honorable Joseph D. Marino, Probate Judge of the Middletown Probate District, as Administrative Judge for the Central Connecticut Regional Children’s Probate Court, effective immediately. Judge Marino will serve as Middletown Probate Judge and Administrative Judge for the children’s court simultaneously.

“I would like to thank Administrator Streit-Kefalas for her confidence in appointing me to this important role,” said Judge Marino. “Having presided over complex cases involving custody, guardianship, and parental rights at Central Connecticut Regional Children’s Probate Court, I know that the operations and staff there are first-rate. I look forward to building on the substantial record of achievement of Judge Philip Wright, and wish him well in his retirement.”

Judge Marino has served as Judge of Probate for the District of Middletown since January 1987. An Xavier High School graduate who is active in numerous local organizations and civic affairs, Judge Marino is past president of the Connecticut Probate Assembly, Chair of the Nominating Committee, and has served on several other committees within the Probate system, including the Executive Committee, the Budget Committee, and the Legislative Committee.

In 2005, the Connecticut General Assembly authorized establishing Regional Children’s Probate Courts around Connecticut. In addition to the Central Connecticut Regional Children’s Probate Court in Meriden, Regional Children’s Probate Courts operate in Hartford, New Haven, 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 Central Connecticut Regional Children’s Probate Court serves 23 communities: Berlin, Cheshire, Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Marlborough, Meriden, Middlefield, Middletown, New Britain, Old Saybrook, Portland, Southington, Wallingford, and Westbrook. The court is located at 1501 East Main Street in Meriden and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.