Illinois Supreme Court Sides with Rahm, Reverses Appellate Ruling

Photo Courtesy - Getty Images(CHICAGO) -- (CHICAGO) -- The Illinois Supreme Court has cleared the way for former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel to run in Chicago's mayoral election on Feb. 22.

In a 7-0 ruling, the Illinois high court struck down Monday's Appeals Court ruling that Emanuel failed to meet residency requirements, which require mayoral candidates to live in Chicago for at least one year before the election.

Thursday's ruling ensures that Emanuel's name will be on the ballot when early voting begins next Monday.

Even before issuing Thursday's decision, the Illinois Supreme Court had already granted an emergency request by Emanuel to stop the city board of elections from printing ballots without his name on them.

The Board had been poised to begin printing the ballots in the next few days. The order made it clear that any ballots printed while Emanuel's appeal to the Supreme Court is pending must include his name.

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