John J. Dougherty, the powerful former city labor leader. Read more Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

by Chris Palmer Published Sept. 15, 2025, 5:02 p.m. ET

Convicted former labor leader John J. Dougherty has asked a federal judge to allow him to serve the rest of his six-year prison sentence on house arrest, saying that his wife is gravely ill and that if he can’t be released to help coordinate her care, she’ll likely die.

Dougherty’s attorney made the request last month in an emergency motion for compassionate release, telling U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl that the condition of Dougherty’s wife, Cecelia — who for years has suffered from a debilitating brain injury — has worsened since her husband reported to prison last fall.

A trust fund established

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