[JURIST] Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane [official website] announced her resignation Tuesday following a conviction on perjury and obstruction charges. Kane was convicted [WSJ report] Monday on nine criminal charges, including two felony perjury charges that each carry seven-year prison terms. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf [official website] called [PennLive report] the situation “unfortunate” but stated that “[h]er decision to resign is the right one, and will allow the people of Pennsylvania to finally move on from this situation.” Kane’s resignation will take effect at close of business on Wednesday. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Kane, 49, was elected in 2012, becoming the first Democrat and the first woman to become attorney general since the post became elective in 1980. In February Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court refused [JURIST report] to reinstate Kane’s law license while investigations proceeded into her alleged leak of grand jury materials. In August of 2015 prosecutors filed criminal charges [JURIST report] against her for allegedly leaking grand jury documents to the media to embarrass a critic, and then giving false testimony to a grand jury to cover up her actions. In May 2015 a state judge appointed a Special Prosecutor to investigate allegations that statewide, confidential grand jury information may have been leaked to the media. After a seven-month investigation, the investigating grand jury recommended criminal charges against Kane. A criminal complaint [text, PDF] had also been filed against one of Kane’s aids. Kane previously refused to resign, claiming that a resignation would be an admission of guilt.