Get to Know Judge Klaskin
The Candidate at a Glance...
Seth Klaskin won the role of Judge of Probate in a special election in 2025 to succeed retiring Judge Peter Barrett. His transition onto the bench was smooth and he has truly cherished the opportunity to help our community members in this new important way. True to his nature, Seth already has become involved in the Probate Court Assembly as he seeks out leadership roles that will advance his exposure and benefit our local court.
Seth is a judge, attorney, entrepreneur, and public servant with almost 30 years of legal and leadership experience. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and the Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, Seth was a civil litigator for over 11 years, representing clients in the Connecticut courts and probate courts. Begining in 2008, he was appointed the Director of the Business Services division at the Office of the Secretary of the State, where he served with distinction (twice nominated for State Manager of the Year) for almost nine years. He then spent time selling large election management and business services software to Secretaries of State around the country, first for a Connecticut-based software company and later for his own outsourced software sales partnership. In 2025 he re-opened Klaskin Law Office to return to his litigation roots.
In elected office, Seth has served the Madison community for more than 20 years, first on the Zoning Board of Appeals (two terms) and then on the Madison Public Schools Board of Education for 17 years (serving as Chair for five years ending in June 2026). During his tenure as Chair Seth guided the district through challenges including the post-pandemic unmasking transition, advancing student achievement, securing school facilities, championing youth mental health, and meeting the exigencies of AI and modern technology in schools. He was instrumental in the passage of Schools Renewal at referendum, and he served as BOE Liaison to the sucessful Neck River Elementary School Building Committee. Seth is proud and humbled that Madison Public Schools attained unprecedented achievements under his tenure. In 2024, MPS achieved the highest ratings in the State Department of Education’s Schools Accountability Index, attaining the #1 spot for the first time. In the same year, all of its eligible schools were named State Schools of Distinction and Daniel Hand High School was awarded the National Blue Ribbon School designation by the US Department of Education. Most importantly, student achievement continued to climb throughout his chairmanship. Seth also served on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE), where he advocated for children and education matters. From 2019 to 2026 Seth was a member of the Connecticut General Assembly's Data Analysis Technology Advisory Board, where he helped draft and continuously update the Connecticut State Data Policy. While at the Secretary of the State's office Seth spent years on the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, where he was entrusted to lead the drafting of the Article 2 Filing Provisions of the 2017 rewrite of the CT Limited Liability Company Act.
Seth’s broad legal background, proven judgment, and commitment to children and families in the community have made him an ideal Judge of Probate for the Madison-Guilford District. His significant experience drafting legislation and policy, and his years of litigation practice, give him keen insight into the application of the probate statutes and precedents. In addition to applying the law wisely and even-handedly, judges of probate are required to administer the business of their courts. Seth’s successes in public administration uniquely prepared him to administer the business of the court, to keep the docket moving efficiently for the citizens of Guilford and Madison. Finally, Seth possesses an empathetic, people-centered demeanor that has served distressed litigants before the court with dignity, equality, and decency.
Seth has been married to Robyn Klaskin for almost 30 years. Robyn has been the Executive Director of Friends of Madison Youth, Inc. d/b/a The Barn (The Madison Arts Barn) for over 16 years (in addition to practicing law most of that time!). Robyn and Seth moved to Madison in 1997 and they have three wonderful, grown daughters, all of whom attended Madison Public Schools from Kindergarten through Graduation.
