Letter: Why do judges wear black robes?

I know something about judges and the courts. I have been an attorney in McHenry County for over 60 years, the president of the Illinois State Bar Association and a member of the Illinois Courts Commission.

Judges wear black robes to unify their appearance and symbolize their neutrality. Judges should put aside partisan politics when they wear the robe, and when they do, they are no longer Democrat or Republican.

In a time when partisanship seems unavoidable, we cannot let it influence our state's highest court. That's why we need to elect Judge Elizabeth Rochford to the Second District of the Illinois Supreme Court. Judge Rochford will best serve this state on the Illinois Supreme Court. Judge Rochford has been a Lake County judge for the past decade, and is universally respected for her work to improve the courts. She has received the highest possible rating from the Illinois State Bar Association and every other bar association that has reviewed her record. She has avery fine judicial demeanor, a sterling reputation, and a record of achievement as a lawyer and a judge.

Her opponent is an extremist who is open about his desire to use the state's highest court to serve his political agenda. He has never been a judge and has been rated "not recommended" by the Illinois State Bar Association and every other bar association that evaluated him. We cannot risk giving him the opportunity to debase our state's entire judicial system.

Supreme Court justices have a tremendous influence on Illinois law and on how the court system actually works for us. Judge Elizabeth Rochford is experienced, respected, compassionate, impartial and committed to justice.

That's why we must elect her to the Supreme Court Second District on Nov. 8. A quality judiciary depends upon it.

Herbert H. Franks

Marengo