Dupage Policy Journal

Judges Elizabeth Rochford and Mary O'Brien, the Democrat nominees for Illinois Supreme Court in Districts 2 and 3, have been criticized for their connections to Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Chicago Alderman Ed Burke, who are both facing charges in separate corruption probes. 

The Illinois Republican Party says for decades, getting approval from Madigan, who controlled the Democrat Party, and Burke, who ran the judicial slating committee, was the most definitive way to receive a judicial appointment.

"Mary K. O'Brien and Elizabeth Rochford are the latest chapter in Illinois' sad history of Madigan Machine-backed judges rising through the ranks of Illinois' judicial system," Shaun McCabe, Illinois Republican Party executive director, said in a press release. 

According to the GOP, Rochford was appointed to her judgeship and for more than 20 years has served on the Illinois Court of Claims. The GOP pointed out that Rochford has donated more than $15,000 in campaign contributions to Burke since 1999, including a $1,500 donation just a month after he was charged with 14 counts of corruption.

"Illinois voters can't afford any more Madigan-backed judges who block anti-corruption reforms," McCabe said.

O'Brien voted with Madigan more than 90% of the time while she served in the General Assembly was also appointed to an Appeals Court judgeship during her last year as a state representative, the GOP noted.

"We must elect justices to our state's highest court who are loyal to the rule of law and the people of Illinois, not to indicted party bosses like Mike Madigan and Ed Burke," McCabe said.

According to Ballotpedia, Rochford faces Mark Curran, Lake County's longest serving sheriff, in the Supreme Court's 2nd District race, while O'Brien is up against Republican Judge Michael Burke in the Illinois Supreme Court 3rd District race. 

The Illinois State Bar Association's (ISBA) 2022 Primary Election Judicial Advisory Poll results gave Burke a "highly recommended" rating, according to Burke's campaign website. 

Burke currently represents the 2nd District on the Illinois Supreme Court. He was appointed to the position in 2020 to fill the seat of retiring Supreme Court Justice Robert R. Thomas, according to his campaign website.