Rochford earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Loyola University of Chicago and a Juris Doctor from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

From 1986 to 1990, she was Cook County assistant state's attorney, from 1990 to 2012, she was a court of claims commissioner for the state of Illinois, concurrently from 2004 to 2012, she was a hearing officer with Skokie, Morton Grove, Lincolnwood, and Glenview.

Additionally, from 1990 to 2012, she was in private practice where she focused on estate planning, probate, trusts and trust administration, real estate, administrative law.

In the general election held on November 8, 2022, Rochford faced off against Republican Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran.

[3] She went on to win against her opponent, securing 54% of the vote, cementing a Democratic majority on the court.