* David Struett at the Sun-Times…

When Democrats redrew the state’s Supreme Court districts last year for the first time in 58 years, they hoped the new map would maintain their party’s majority on the court.

A longtime Democratic justice had just lost his seat, and state legislators from his party knew that maintaining their 4-3 dominance of the state’s top court would require the party to win just one of the four districts outside of Cook County, which has already sent three reliably Democratic justices to the court.

But the retirement of a Republican justice created a rare open seat race in the northwest suburban 2nd District. And that could tilt the Democratic leaning 4-3 court into Republican hands — if the race in the 3rd District, where Democratic Justice Thomas Kilbride lost his bid for retention two years ago, also goes Republican.

The 3rd District does not have a contested primary.

That is far from the case in the 2nd District, where four Republicans and three Democrats are vying for the seat previously held for two decades by retired Justice (and former Chicago Bear) Bob Thomas. That district now covers a large part of northeastern Illinois, including DeKalb, Kendall, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties.

Go read the rest for brief profiles of all the candidates.

* Here’s Personal PAC’s social media ad for Supreme Court candidate Nancy Rotering…

* The Illinois Judges Association voted to elevate Rotering’s Democratic primary opponent…

Lake County Associate Judge Elizabeth Rochford was installed as 3rd Vice President of the Illinois Judges Association during the annual meeting on June 3, 2022. The Illinois Judges Association, which represents 1,250 active and retired Illinois state court judges, was founded in 1972 to provide services, support, and education to its member judges and raise public understanding of the Illinois judicial system.

Judge Rochford has been a judge for 10 years and is also an active member and past president of the Lake County Bar Association. Judge Rochford took the leadership role in Access to Justice by establishing the first family law courtroom committed to serving self-represented litigants, the Guardianship Help Desk, and the “Page It Forward” initiative to advance literacy.

Judge Rochford has been recognized by legal and social groups for leadership, advancing diversity, access to justice, and as a Woman of Vision.

* Same district, Republican Party…

The Lake County Bar Association released ratings this week of candidates for the Illinois Supreme Court, giving Judge Daniel Shanes their highest rating, “highly recommended.”

The Lake County Bar Association joins a growing list of organizations praising Shanes’s qualifications for the state’s highest court. The Illinois State Bar Association also rated Shanes “highly recommended,” and Shanes received the highest overall rating in a survey conducted by the ISBA among lawyers and judges in the Second Judicial District, easily outperforming his primary opponent as well as the Democrats running for the seat.

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police also endorsed Shanes, citing his “deep commitment to upholding justice and the rule of law.” As a major crimes prosecutor, Shanes earned the respect of law enforcement for his fair and impartial application of the law.

Businesses know that an even application of justice impacts their environment as well, which is why Judge Shanes has also been endorsed by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. They know that when the rule of law is supported in our state, businesses can thrive.

“I am profoundly grateful to the Lake County Bar Association for their faith in my qualifications for the highest court in our state,” said Judge Dan Shanes. “I have dedicated my career to supporting the rule of law and ensuring justice is done in the courtroom. To have these attorneys, judges, and members of law enforcement acknowledge my qualifications for the bench is an honor, and I promise to represent the people of the Second Supreme Court District with distinction as their Supreme Court Justice.”

Judge Shanes has received endorsements from legislative, law enforcement, and community leaders from across the Second District including former Rep. Jeanne Ives, the Lake County GOP, Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin, Sen Don DeWitte, Sen Craig Wilcox, Rep. Mark Batinick, Rep. Dan Ugaste, Rep. Chris Bos, Rep. Jeff Keicher, Rep. Tom Weber, and many more. See more endorsements of Judge Shanes HERE.

Rochford was rated “Highly Qualified.” Rotering and Mark Curran didn’t submit a questionnaires nor submit to interviews and were rated “Not Recommended.”

* More…

* Second District Appellate Court primary candidates stress impact judgeship has on people’s lives