Leonard Murray, Annette Eckert, Seymour Simon, Robert K. Downs and James M. Wexstten.
The Illinois Judges Association (IJA) recently completed taping a new public information program "Judicial Perspective" featuring judges and lawyers on the topic, "The Importance of an Independent Judiciary."
Annette Eckert, a 20th Judicial Circuit St. Clair County judge, was among the participants in the half-hour program which will be released to local cable networks later this month.
Eckert said the experience was "real positive."
"What happens in court is not supposed to be a mystery," she said.
If more people gain a deeper understanding of the judicial system, then "that's a great thing," Eckert added.
Also appearing on the show were Leonard Murray, a Chicago lawyer and past chairman of the Alliance of Bar Association for Judicial Screening; Seymour Simon, who served with distinction as an Illinois Supreme Court justice and who is now a partner with the Chicago law firm of Piper Rudnick Gray Cary; Robert K. Downs, a Chicago attorney and president of the Illinois State Bar Association; and program host James M. Wexstten, a judge in the Second Judicial Circuit in Mount Vernon and IJA president.
The program will be produced monthly.
The Illinois Judges Association, formed in 1971, provides continuing legal support to members of the judiciary and education to the public on matters regarding the court system.