UPDATE: A prominent Illinois election lawyer who asked to remain anonymous because of his many political clients in Chicago, told the Huffington Post that there may be hope for Emanuel yet.

The Illinois Supreme Court, he said, "would certainly give the Appellate Court respect but I wouldn't say that they are constrained from reversing their decision."

That said, Monday's two-to-one ruling throwing Emanuel's name off the Chicago mayoral ballot was a major legal set back that dramatically complicated the former White House chief of staff's run for the post. Rather than seek a rehearing with the appellate court, the Illinois lawyer said he expected the Emanuel campaign to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court either Wednesday or as early as Tuesday. The Court will likely choose to take the case before the week was over.