Judge Rules Against Mayor Adams on Solitary Confinement Ban

A Manhattan judge determined that Mayor Eric Adams overstepped his authority by blocking a New York City Council law that bans solitary confinement in local prisons, according to a ruling issued Monday.

Judge Jeffrey H. Perlman stated in his decision that “Mayor Adams acted beyond the scope of his emergency.” He emphasized that the mayor cannot simply disregard the law because of his personal disapproval of its effects.

This ruling clears the path for the City Council’s Act, which was approved in late 2023, to come into effect, ending solitary confinement practices. Just before the law was set to take effect, Adams signed an emergency order preventing its implementation.

The city council, along with public advocate Jumaane Williams, filed a lawsuit against Adams in December, labeling his actions as “arbitrary and whimsical.”

Judge Perlman suggested that the mayor should be cautious about misusing emergency powers, which should only be reserved for genuine crises. He noted that a veto is a legitimate tool within a democracy, but when the law passed with enough votes to override a veto, Adams had no grounds for blocking it.

Perlman remarked, “By declaring a state of emergency and issuing an emergency order, he violated that process.” Local Law 42 prohibits punitive separation of inmates, especially at Rikers Island, beyond a four-hour escalation period.

This law also revises the way inmates are transported, emphasizing safety measures when securing them in buses and other transport vehicles.

While Perlman acknowledged concerns about the law raised by a federal oversight monitor for Rikers, he stated that these concerns do not grant the mayor the authority to sideline the law’s implementation. The judge recommended that Adams should have consulted a federal judge overseeing the monitor about the law’s execution.

Council Chairman Adrian Adams praised the ruling and called for the city administration to ensure compliance with the law.

“The mayor, like all New Yorkers, must follow the law and cannot abuse the authority of the office,” City Council Speaker Adrianne Adams commented. She further added that solitary confinement inflicts physical and emotional harm, making it detrimental to both prisons and the public.

In response, City Hall spokesperson Liz Garcia expressed concerns that the new law “creates a new definition of solitary confinement,” raising issues about public safety in prisons. She also noted that solitary confinement has not been enforced in city facilities since 2019.