Monday,
December 2, 2002
RICHARD
IANNELLA ELECTED TO HEAD PROBATE REGISTERS ASSOCIATION;
BUDGETARY ISSUES, PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE COURT TO REMAIN TOP
PRIORITIES:
Suffolk
County Register of Probate Richard Iannella has been chosen by
his counterparts to serve as President of the Massachusetts
Association of Registers of Probate. The election of Iannella
to the position took place during the November meeting of the
association.
“I’m
honored and humbled that my colleagues have put such faith and
confidence in me, especially considering the tough road that
lies ahead,” said Iannella. “I look forward to working
with all of the Registers, and more importantly, representing
court users, taxpayers and the public in general as we tackle
a number of very important issues facing our court system.”
Citing
fiscal uncertainty as a new year approaches, Iannella said
that budgetary issues and public accountability would likely
remain priorities for the group for some time. “As the
Registers of Probate are among the very few court
administrators actually elected to office, we are directly
accountable to the citizens of Massachusetts as their
representatives,” he said. “We take that responsibility
very seriously, and our group will do all that it can to
ensure that our courts operate efficiently and effectively
without hindering public access or delaying justice in any
way.”
Outgoing
Association President John Barrett, Register of Probate in
Franklin County, agreed with Iannella’s sentiments: “I
commend my colleagues on their leadership selection, and I am
confident that our group will remain a respected voice of the
people in any future discussion of budgeting issues, court
reform, or other controversial issues facing our courts.”
Iannella
recently won re-election to a new term as Suffolk County
Register of Probate. He was first elected to the position in
1996, and previously served as a Boston City Councilor. Since
becoming Register, Iannella has continually been recognized by
elected officials, court administrators, members of the media
and the public at-large as an outspoken advocate for users of
the Registry and the Probate and Family Courts.
In
2000, Iannella opened the Addington Resource Center – the
first do-it-yourself center for unrepresented litigants in the
Commonwealth. Soon after, he initiated the first-ever series
of informational meetings held in neighborhoods throughout
Suffolk County. He has expanded the court’s volunteer
“Lawyer for the Day” program, and has received national
attention for his successful recovery of wills and other
historical document that had been previously stolen from the
Registry.
