Former probate judge remembered as a gentle man of strong principles
ELLSWORTH Colleagues and friends of former Hancock County probate judge and attorney Jim Patterson are remembering him as a gentle, patient man.
Patterson died Jan. 16 at age 72 after battling pulmonary fibrosis for 11 years.
“Judge Patterson was a private, unique, smart, thorough and fair judge,” said former Hancock County Register of Probate Bonnie Cousins. Cousins worked with Patterson for 11 years.
Cousins said during adoption cases, the judge always let children come up to the bench and pound his gavel and sit in his chair. He would also take a photo with them.
New register of probate
ELLSWORTH
Juliette Wilbur (center), Hancock County’s newly elected register of probate, is sworn into office Monday morning by Abby Dow (not shown), who is a Dedimus Justice and thus tasked with swearing in public officials as well as notaries public. Wilbur was attended by Probate Judge William Blaisdell IV (right), her husband, Jarad, and son Waylon. Wilbur succeeds former Register of Probate Gale Coughlin, who decided not to run for re-election. The Register of Probate’s Office handles the administrative duties related to Probate Court affairs. Probate handles such matters as wills, name changes, adoptions and guardianships, to name a few.