Murray Wins GOP Probate Judge Nomination

Darien attorney Mike Murray has narrowly won the Republican nomination for the newly-created New Canaan/Darien probate judgeship, according to results released by both towns Tuesday.

Updated numbers show Murray with a 73-vote lead over John J. Ryan and Bill Osterndorf in a close third. Murray clocks in at 1,225 votes, Ryan at 1,152, and Osterndorf at 1,140.

In Darien, Murray netted 791 votes; Ryan, 905 votes; and Osterndorf, 125 votes.

In New Canaan, Murray racked up 434 votes; Ryan, 247 votes, and Osterndorf, 1,015.

The victory caps a three-way race that pitted Ryan, Osterndorf, and Murray against each other for a shot at presiding over a consolidated probate district created under state legislation.

Ryan and Osterndorf both received the endorsement of their respective towns' delegates at a convention in May, while Murray subsequently petitioned his way onto the ballot. No Democrat has come forward to run in the race.

Probate court judges handle cases pertaining to estates and trusts, conservatorship, and some aspects of family law, among other categories.

Currently the two towns are served by individual probate courts, but that will change come January.

The general election is scheduled for Nov. 2.