Prosecutors in the city hall corruption trial proved officials covered up violations of the Shakman decree. The decree bars Chicago from considering politics in most hiring. Now, the court order’s namesake says the convictions are a disgrace to the city.

Michael Shakman lost his bid for a seat at Illinois’ 1970 Constitutional convention. But Shakman didn’t just lose to any opponent; he lost to the Democratic machine. His opponent lured campaign workers with the promise of city jobs.

Now, Shakman says today’s headlines are a sad reflection of that episode.

“And I’m disappointed that we have to have criminal prosecutions to enforce that rule. That’s why I say I lay this at the mayor’s feet. If he’d made clear that these court orders were supposed to be obeyed, not circumvented, they would have been obeyed,” he says.

Michael Shakman says it’s not clear whether Chicago Mayor Richard Daley himself has broken any law. Federal prosecutors wouldn’t say whether the mayor is under investigation.