John J. Dougherty, the former city labor leader Read more Steven M. Falk / Staff Photographer

by Chris Palmer Published Dec. 1, 2025, 12:01 p.m. ET

Convicted former labor leader John J. Dougherty is again asking a federal judge to cut short his six-year prison term , this time because he says the recent death of his father-in-law has left his gravely ill wife without a caregiver.

Dougherty made the request in a brief filed last month with U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl, writing that his wife, Cecilia — who for years has suffered from a debilitating brain injury — has been left “entirely alone and without any capable caregiver” since her father died from pancreatic cancer on Nov. 10.

Dougherty has previously argued that he should be granted compassionate release

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