Letter: A political smear on court candidate

I am writing this letter in response to a letter published this week in the Daily Herald that contained repeated lies about Judge Elizabeth Rochford, who is the Democratic nominee for the Illinois Supreme Court in the 2nd District.

Judge Rochford was appointed to the 19th Circuit Court by a unanimous vote of the sitting circuit judges - not by any "machine" or any individual and certainly not by Mike Madigan. I had the honor of serving as a judge alongside Judge Rochford for nine years. She has been an outstanding lawyer and judge for the past 35 years. She is well respected by fellow judges, attorneys and court employees.

I have seen firsthand her commitment to fairness in our courts and equal access for everyone to the justice system.

The lies contained in the letter are a failed attempt to discredit Judge Rochford's impressive record as a 10-year Lake County judge with the goal of distracting the voters from the fact that her opponent has never been a judge and is rated as Not Recommended by the Illinois Bar Association.

Experience and integrity matter on our state's highest bench and Judge Elizabeth Rochford is the only candidate with the qualifications, experience and values to earn that seat and your vote.

Valerie Boettle Ceckowski

Gurnee