TORRINGTON - Probate Judge Michael F. Magistrali, the incumbent judge for the Torrington/Goshen Probate District, announced his candidacy Sunday for the newly formed probate district serving Hartland, Barkhamsted, New Hartford, Colebrook, Winchester, Torrington and Goshen.

He also announced endorsements by former state Rep. Brian Mattiello, former Torrington City Clerk Fred Bruni from Torrington, Sen. Andrew Roraback, Rep. John Rigby, Barkhamsted Town Clerk Maria Mullady, New Hartford Probate Clerk Suzanne Pombar, Winchester Republican Town Committee Chairman Richard Lavieri and Winchester Selectman Karen Beadle.

Magistrali said his existing district is consistently rated high by the office of the Probate Court Administrator in terms of efficiency and service to users of the court. “With the help of wonderful staff, I am proud of the way the Probate Court I currently preside over has performed and been there for countless individuals at a time of need,” Magistrali said.

The new probate district is the result of a major reorganization of the Probate system that reduces the number of courts statewide from 117 to 54. The consolidation of courts takes effect in January 2011. The new Torrington Area Probate District will be located in Torrington in the newly renovated City Hall.

Judge Magistrali has served as the Probate Judge in Torrington since January 1999. During that time, he has also served on several committees of the Connecticut Probate Assembly, including the Probate Practice Book Revision Committee, the Probate Reorganization Committee, and the Probate Ethics Committee.

Judge Magistrali also maintains a private law practice in Torrington, Michael F. Magistrali & Associates, LLC. He was previously partner in the firm of Rosenstein & Magistrali in Winsted, an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Boston, Massachusetts.

Judge Magistrali is a graduate of Torrington High School, Boston College, and Boston College Law School. He lives in Torrington with his wife, Robin, and their four daughters, Amelia, Alison, Maura and Felice.

The Republican nominating convention for the Torrington Probate District will be held on May 7 at 7 p.m. in the P. Francis Hicks room in Winchester Town Hall located at 38 Main Street, Winsted. The election for probate judge will take place in November along with the other statewide and federal races.