In a historic decision, a federal judge Thursday ended the half-century-old anti-patronage case launched to fight the stubborn and unfair use of politics to decide most hiring, firing, and promotion in state and local government.

       Judge Edmond Chang’s move came as he granted the request of Democratic Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough to eliminate federal oversight of her office even though she’d been routinely criticized for politicizing hiring. The clerk’s office is the last of multiple public offices to be relieved of the supervision in the long-running case.

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       Chang approved a joint motion brought by Yarbrough and attorney Michael Shakman, who first filed a lawsuit challenging the widespread use of patronage in 1969 during the era of Mayor Richard J. Daley, who perfected the Chicago machine.