Democrat Begins First Term After Taking Oath At CCSU Ceremony
by John McNamara
NEW BRITAIN – The office of Judge of Probate for Berlin and New Britain changed hands for a third time in two years on January 3rd when Attorney Bill Rivera was sworn in to a four-year term.
Rivera, an attorney in New Britain for more than 30 years and a former majority leader of the city’s Common Council, succeeds Republican Attorney Mike Carrier the incumbent elected in a 2021 special election. Carrier defeated Democrat Rivera to fill out the term of Walter Clebowicz who reached the mandatory retirement age during his last term. Renominated in 2022, Rivera came back to edge Carrier in a close election to earn a full term last November 8th. Rivera is reportedly the first person of Hispanic heritage to be elected to the Probate Court.
New Britain Superior Court Judge Lisa K. Morgan administered the oath to Rivera at Founders’ Hall on the CCSU campus before a near capacity audience. Rivera’s family, including his parents and brothers, were joined by Democratic supporters, former colleagues on the Council, a cross-section of city residents and lifelong friends. Democratic Registrar of Voters Lucian Pawlak, State Reps Bobby Sanchez (D-25) and Manny Sanchez (D-24) were among officials in attendance at the ceremony. They were joined by CCSU President Zulma Toro.
Rivera thanked his parents whose “work ethic”, he said, made them role models for his own path to a law career and eventually to the Probate Court. He shared that as a Berlin High School student a factory job in New Britain was more important to him than hitting the books. “To me going to school was a waste of time,” said Rivera, who eventually changed to succeed at community college, CCSU and on to law school. More than 20 years ago, after his stints on the Common Council, Rivera overcame a serious health challenge, undergoing bypass surgery. He again credited his parents, family and a law partner for helping on a long road back to health.
According to Rivera, his second campaign in as many years for the judgeship “was a good experience which had its dark days and its fun days” in which he found that few voters were familiar with the services of the Probate Court. From meeting voters last year Rivera takes office more intent on “listening to what people are saying and not assuming you know what they will say.”
He described Probate, which deals with trusts, estates, guardianships and family matters as involving “the human condition in every form.”
The Berlin Probate Court, located at One Liberty Square, includes Berlin and the City of New Britain and is one of 54 Probate districts in the state. Also known as “family courts” probate judges who preside have jurisdiction over the oversight of trusts and estates, including probating wills and the administration of estates; overseeing testamentary and living trusts; determining title to real and personal property; and determining the meaning of wills and trusts. Judges of Probate are responsible for overseeing court operations but are also allowed to maintain their own law practices.
