Lake County judge running for Illinois Supreme Court

A Lake County judge on Thursday announced her candidacy for the newly redrawn 2nd Supreme Court District.

Elizabeth M. Rochford issued a news release Thursday afternoon declaring her candidacy for the supreme court district that encompasses DeKalb, Kendall, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties.

This spring, the Illinois General Assembly redrew the judicial maps, shrinking the 2nd District, which previously spanned 13 counties to just five. The State Supreme Court delayed its transition to the new boundaries as it works out administrative logistics.

Rochford will be running as a Democrat in the June 28 primary election under the new map.

“Access to justice for everyone – regardless of personal circumstance – must be a priority for the entire Illinois court system,” Rochford said in the release. “My record of service and integrity, coupled with my experience as a leader in the Illinois justice system, has prepared me to meet the challenging issues facing courts today.”

Rochford, 60, has been an associate judge in Lake County since her appointment in 2012. Since then, she has heard civil and criminal matters, with a significant focus on family law, according to the release. She currently presides over probate court.

A former assistant state’s attorney and solo practitioner, Rochford has served on the Illinois Judges Association Board of Directors since 2015. She currently is secretary of the association and is a chairperson for literacy and access to justice initiatives, according to the release. Among those initiatives is the 2021 “Building Confidence in the Legal System.” The educational series for judges, attorneys and other stakeholders focuses on racial and other inequities in the legal system, according to the release.

Rochford additionally served on the Illinois State Bar Association Board of Governors and as secretary and former president of the Lake County Bar Association. She remains active in both organizations.

She has been the recipient of the 2020 ISBA Carole K. Bellows Woman of Influence Award, the Lake County Women’s Association 2019 Woman of Significance Award and the Lake County Bar Association’s 2019 Access to Justice Award.

Rochford earned her bachelor’s in English from Loyola University of Chicago and her law degree from Loyola University School of Law, Chicago, according to the release.

She lives in Lake County with her husband, Michael Striedl, and has been a resident of the area for 30 years.

Information about Rochford is available online at www.judgerochfordforsupremecourt.com.