From the Belleville News Democrat (Editorial):

Posted on Thu, Jan. 24, 2008
Campaign cash gets in the way
There has to be a better way to choose judges. We keep saying that, and the just-released campaign finance reports in the Judy Cates-James Wexstten 5th Appellate Court race are the latest evidence.
By the primary Feb. 5, the two Democratic candidates probably will have spent more than $1 million combined. Not surprisingly, big money always raises questions about a candidate's ability to be fair and impartial if elected.
For instance, Wexstten received a $50,000 contribution from an Indiana company. Cates is making an issue of it, and it does look bad. Why is a company outside Illinois sinking so much money into this particular race?
Wexstten said his fund-raising committee didn't solicit the contribution and that he isn't for sale. But to silence the criticism, maybe he should just give back the money. However, he said his campaign needs it. Cates' campaign has more than double what Wexstten's has raised, most of it loans from herself.
Cates said that by bankrolling her own campaign, she's not "beholden to these powerbroker lawyers." But it's not that she wouldn't accept contributions; she just hasn't gotten many because she is not the party's endorsed candidate. If she wins, she said she expects fundraisers to help cover those loans. No doubt the powerbroker lawyers would line up to contribute then.
Cates and Wexstten both agree the current system isn't the best, but doubt it ever will change. However, if the people of Illinois believe that politics has no place in the courtroom, they need to get judges off the campaign trail and out of the political contribution business.