Litchfield County Family Chiropractic

Diane Blick Endorsement
By Edward J. Miller, Litchfield

Caring, compassionate, just, unbiased, and completely versed in the relevant statutes and laws are qualities that we expect to find in our judges. However, in the case of Judge of the Probate Court they are especially important, since the individual elected to this office makes decisions in matters that have tremendous impact on people at a time when they are at the most emotional and wrenching moments in their lives.

Judge Diane Blick exemplifies these qualities. During her tenure as Judge of the Litchfield District Probate Court, she has carefully and assiduously guided many of us through the most joyful and the most traumatic times of our lives.
I recall last January 2009 on a cold, blustery day when I walked into Judge Blick’s office to begin the probate procedure for my spouse’s estate. Only two months prior on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Diane had graciously opened her office to perform our marriage. And, now, here I was in utter distress needing her help once again. I will be forever grateful for Diane’s warmth, care, and obvious concern as she asked me to join her in her office and proceeded to let me know that she was there to guide me through the most difficult period in my life during which any of us could be easily overwhelmed with the multitude of papers and forms that must be filed in a timely fashion. Throughout the probate procedure Judge Blick was always there to answer my questions and to make sure I had the proper forms and had “covered all my bases.”

As someone who had within a very short period been at the height of happiness, having finally been allowed by the state of CT to marry my spouse legally after 22 years of being together, and then quickly reduced to utter despair by his death only two months later, it was Judge Blick’s wisdom, compassion, and thorough knowledge of the issues facing me that got me through those mountains of forms and helped me to maintain my equilibrium. And what is equally as impressive about Judge Blick is that she herself was during the very same time dealing with the sudden passing of her beloved husband the previous December.

Diane Blick is a person who brings to the Office of Probate Judge all the qualities I mentioned at the opening of this letter. All of us in the newly reconfigured Litchfield Hills Probate District will benefit tremendously from her continued presence on the bench. I urge you to vote for Diane Blick for Probate Judge on November 2nd.

Sincerely,
Edward J. Miller
110 Goodhouse Road
Litchfield, CT

Diane Blick Endorsement
by Anne C. Dranginis
(Judge, CT Appellate Court, Retired)

I write to support Diane Blick for Judge of Probate in the Northwest Hills District. Judge Blick has served with distinction, and has been a leader in the movement to consolidate probate court districts to gain efficiencies while controlling costs. The Legislature worked to consolidate districts, and provided that elected Probate Judges who were in office could run for retention, even if he or she was not an attorney admitted to practice law in Connecticut. In so doing, the Legislature recognized the tradition of elected judges who were not lawyers. The Probate Courts have long been the “Peoples’ court.”

The Legislature resisted a move to combine probate courts into the Superior Court, maintaining a history of convenient, informal resolution of estate and guardianship matters. The probate courts not only administer estates, but also provide fast and effective determinations of guardianship of children. Probate judges are asked to determine issues of competency or level of care for people suffering from disabling illnesses. Many of our citizens access the probate courts at times of family sadness or distress, when a quiet, caring hand can smooth the waters of confusion and in some instances, despair. The fact that probate courts are often less congested and busy than the Superior Court gives citizens the dignity of presenting their problems to a Judge who will hear and dispose of their matters in a less harried manner than that which we see in the Superior Court.

As a Judge of the Superior Court, particularly as Administrative Judge in our antiquated courthouse in Litchfield, I heard the frustration of citizens who are forced daily to discuss important personal matters in crowded hallways, and wait for their opportunity to be heard at a motion calendar. While we worked, and the judges continue to work, to improve that process, it does not compare to the activity and aura of the probate courts in this State, where a hearing is scheduled, and occurs, at a set time before a judge who is known to her constituency. The difference is dramatic.

Judge Blick has combined 35 years of work in the legal profession and work in the Probate Court first as a Clerk (for 4 years) and then as Judge for the past several years with a professional but compassionate approach to matters which come before her. I have had the pleasure to appear before her, as well as other probate judges, since my retirement from the bench. I saw Judge Blick control her courtroom with a quiet but firm presence, clearly as competently as her attorney colleagues who also are probate judges. My experience with her was complete familiarity with relevant statutes as well as the case law appropriate to the situation. At the same time, she was approachable, and willing to answer any question put to her. She was willing to work with the schedules of the parties involved in the matter, and ordered deadlines which efficiently disposed of matters without hardship to the parties. Judge Blick has handled over 1900 cases, originating in her District composed of Kent, Litchfield, Morris and Warren, in the past three years.

She is a business woman who has run her own business, been involved in a variety of initiatives in the business community of the Northwest Corner, as well as volunteer activities which have demonstrated her administrative capacities. Those multiple endeavors demonstrate her ability to manage a consolidated court and to strategize solutions for meeting the needs of all the people in the District’s towns.
We have been well-served by Judge Blick, and she is able to continue to serve the citizens of the Northwest Corner. While the consolidation of the Probate Courts asks the public to choose between current judges, it is my belief that Judge Blick’s work in Kent, Litchfield, Morris and Warren, demonstrates her commitment to the northwest corner, her knowledge of the area and the needs of its people, and continuing competence to meet the challenges of the new probate District.

I endorse her candidacy and recommend her for your important vote.

Respectfully submitted,
Anne C. Dranginis

(Judge, CT Appellate Court, Retired)



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Diane Blick Endorsement By Edward J. Miller, Litchfield Caring, compassionate, just, unbiased, and completely versed in the relevant statutes and laws are qualities that we expect to find in our judges. However, in the case of Judge of the Probate Court they are especially important, since the individual elected to this office makes decisions in matters that have tremendous impact on people at a time when they are at the most emotional and wrenching moments in their lives. Judge Diane Blick exemplifies these qualities. During her tenure as Judge of the Litchfield District Probate Court, she has carefully and assiduously guided many of us through the most joyful and the most traumatic times of our lives. I recall last January 2009 on a cold, blustery day when I walked into Judge Blick’s office to begin the probate procedure for my spouse’s estate. Only two months prior on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Diane had graciously opened her office to perform our marriage. And, now, here I was in utter distress needing her help once again. I will be forever grateful for Diane’s warmth, care, and obvious concern as she asked me to join her in her office and proceeded to let me know that she was there to guide me through the most difficult period in my life during which any of us could be easily overwhelmed with the multitude of papers and forms that must be filed in a timely fashion. Throughout the probate procedure Judge Blick was always there to answer my questions and to make sure I had the proper forms and had “covered all my bases.” As someone who had within a very short period been at the height of happiness, having finally been allowed by the state of CT to marry my spouse legally after 22 years of being together, and then quickly reduced to utter despair by his death only two months later, it was Judge Blick’s wisdom, compassion, and thorough knowledge of the issues facing me that got me through those mountains of forms and helped me to maintain my equilibrium. And what is equally as impressive about Judge Blick is that she herself was during the very same time dealing with the sudden passing of her beloved husband the previous December. Diane Blick is a person who brings to the Office of Probate Judge all the qualities I mentioned at the opening of this letter. All of us in the newly reconfigured Litchfield Hills Probate District will benefit tremendously from her continued presence on the bench. I urge you to vote for Diane Blick for Probate Judge on November 2nd. Sincerely, Edward J. Miller 110 Goodhouse Road Litchfield, CT Diane Blick Endorsement by Anne C. Dranginis (Judge, CT Appellate Court, Retired) I write to support Diane Blick for Judge of Probate in the Northwest Hills District. Judge Blick has served with distinction, and has been a leader in the movement to consolidate probate court districts to gain efficiencies while controlling costs. The Legislature worked to consolidate districts, and provided that elected Probate Judges who were in office could run for retention, even if he or she was not an attorney admitted to practice law in Connecticut. In so doing, the Legislature recognized the tradition of elected judges who were not lawyers. The Probate Courts have long been the “Peoples’ court.” The Legislature resisted a move to combine probate courts into the Superior Court, maintaining a history of convenient, informal resolution of estate and guardianship matters. The probate courts not only administer estates, but also provide fast and effective determinations of guardianship of children. Probate judges are asked to determine issues of competency or level of care for people suffering from disabling illnesses. Many of our citizens access the probate courts at times of family sadness or distress, when a quiet, caring hand can smooth the waters of confusion and in some instances, despair. The fact that probate courts are often less congested and busy than the Superior Court gives citizens the dignity of presenting their problems to a Judge who will hear and dispose of their matters in a less harried manner than that which we see in the Superior Court. As a Judge of the Superior Court, particularly as Administrative Judge in our antiquated courthouse in Litchfield, I heard the frustration of citizens who are forced daily to discuss important personal matters in crowded hallways, and wait for their opportunity to be heard at a motion calendar. While we worked, and the judges continue to work, to improve that process, it does not compare to the activity and aura of the probate courts in this State, where a hearing is scheduled, and occurs, at a set time before a judge who is known to her constituency. The difference is dramatic. Judge Blick has combined 35 years of work in the legal profession and work in the Probate Court first as a Clerk (for 4 years) and then as Judge for the past several years with a professional but compassionate approach to matters which come before her. I have had the pleasure to appear before her, as well as other probate judges, since my retirement from the bench. I saw Judge Blick control her courtroom with a quiet but firm presence, clearly as competently as her attorney colleagues who also are probate judges. My experience with her was complete familiarity with relevant statutes as well as the case law appropriate to the situation. At the same time, she was approachable, and willing to answer any question put to her. She was willing to work with the schedules of the parties involved in the matter, and ordered deadlines which efficiently disposed of matters without hardship to the parties. Judge Blick has handled over 1900 cases, originating in her District composed of Kent, Litchfield, Morris and Warren, in the past three years. She is a business woman who has run her own business, been involved in a variety of initiatives in the business community of the Northwest Corner, as well as volunteer activities which have demonstrated her administrative capacities. Those multiple endeavors demonstrate her ability to manage a consolidated court and to strategize solutions for meeting the needs of all the people in the District’s towns. We have been well-served by Judge Blick, and she is able to continue to serve the citizens of the Northwest Corner. While the consolidation of the Probate Courts asks the public to choose between current judges, it is my belief that Judge Blick’s work in Kent, Litchfield, Morris and Warren, demonstrates her commitment to the northwest corner, her knowledge of the area and the needs of its people, and continuing competence to meet the challenges of the new probate District. I endorse her candidacy and recommend her for your important vote. Respectfully submitted, Anne C. Dranginis (Judge, CT Appellate Court, Retired)