AUBURN — A longtime Lewiston lawyer is challenging Androscoggin County Judge of Probate Joshua Klein-Golden for the job.

Michael Dubois, who has specialized in probate matters such as wills, estates and guardianship for 25 years, said his experience has prepared him for the part-time post.

“I have a lot of background,” the 56-year-old Republican said. “I’m very sensitive to the needs of folks, and I believe my experience will bring me to the point where I can make the right decisions.”

Democrat Klein-Golden, 32, said he has learned on the job, first as the county’s Register of Probate and later as the judge.

In 2009, Klein-Golden was appointed to the job by then-Gov. John Baldacci when the elected register declined the job. Klein-Golden kept the position until the end of 2010 when he was defeated in a re-election bid. Seven months later, he returned to the probate court as its judge.

He took over for his mentor, Judge Robert Couturier, who died while in office.

“From Judge Couturier, I learned the demeanor you need,” Klein-Golden said.

The reason is that the cases that reach the judge are often fueled with emotion, such as custody hearings in which there are allegations of abuse. Often, people are unrepresented by lawyers and get angry, he said.

“It gets hotly contested, people talking over everybody,” Klein-Golden said. “Judge Couturier really showed me what kind of patience you need, listening. Don’t yell at them. Don’t put them down. They need to have their hearing.”

The rest of the work tends to be rather clear, a matter of knowing probate law, Klein-Golden said.

“It’s not political at all,” Klein Golden said. “It’s really knowing this stuff, having experience hearing the cases and reading the case law.”

Dubois said he, too, knows the law.

Originally from Fort Kent, he has practiced law in Lewiston since 1994, specializing in family law and personal injury cases as well as probate matters.

Though he has never sought elected office, Dubois believes his experience has prepared him for this office.

“I think experience matters,” he said. “I think that’s probably the most important part of what I have to bring to this office.”

Both men live in Lewiston.

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