Cook County Judge Mark Ballard ordered that Rahm Emanuel’s name appear on the ballot for the Chicago mayoral primary, clearing the second hurdle for Emanuel’s candidacy:
Rahm Emanuel won another round Tuesday in his battle to stay on the ballot for Chicago mayor, but those trying to knock him off vowed further appeals that could take weeks.
Early voting begins Jan. 31, and it’s unclear whether the legal process will be finished by then. Veteran elections attorney Burt Odelson said he will file an appeal Wednesday of Cook County Judge Mark J. Ballard’s decision. If Odelson loses at the Illinois Appellate Court, he said, he will take the case to the state Supreme Court.
“We couldn’t have worse luck,” Odelson said. “All election lawyers go through that. You lose below and you win above, or you win below and you lose above.”
Odelson said he will ask appellate judges to hear the case on an expedited basis so that they could rule within about two weeks.
The case is bound to be appealed. It’s cheaper and easier to block Emanuel in the courts than it is at the ballot box.
The next step is the Illinois Appellate Court. After that the Illinois Supreme Court. My guess is that this case will continue to be escalated until there’s nowhere left to go.
Plus, keeping the lawsuit in the papers is a form of negative advertising against Emanuel, or at least it would remind me how tenuous his connections to this community have been. I think other people will decide that the judges have blessed Emanuel as a local candidate. It’s the robes.
(My understanding is that judicial review in this area is highly deferential to the local administrative body)