New York City Mayor Eric Adams unlawfully used emergency powers to override a City Council ban on prolonged solitary confinement in local jails, a state judge ruled Monday. The court sided with the City Council, declaring Adams had exceeded his authority in issuing an executive order to suspend the law after his veto was overridden.
New York State Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman ruled that the City Council’s override of Adams’ January 2024 veto was final and not an emergency. “When the city Council overturns a mayoral veto, it is not an emergency, it is a democratic process, clearly laid out in the New York City charter,” Pearlman wrote.
Adams, a former NYPD officer, had argued the solitary confinement ban endangered corrections officers and detainees. He declared a state of emergency to block the law, which limited “restrictive housing” to 60 days annually per inmate, and suspended related restraint rules during court transports. The City Council, however, claimed the policy was necessary to curb abuse and improve safety inside jails.
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who led the lawsuit and was recently eliminated from the Democratic mayoral primary, said the ruling is “a win for our local democracy, human rights, and public safety.” She accused the mayor of abusing executive authority and vowed to ensure the administration complies with the law moving forward.
The legal dispute is part of ongoing tension between Mayor Adams and the Democratic-controlled council. The two sides have also clashed over vetoes concerning police oversight and City Council authority over mayoral appointments.
The ruling follows a federal judge’s decision to place New York City’s jail system under independent monitoring due to ongoing issues at Rikers Island and other facilities.
