Official court ruling or settlement announcement

NYC Council Sues Mayor Adams Over Executive Order Blocking Solitary Confinement Ban

Dec 9, 2024, 03:46 PM

The New York City Council, along with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Eric Adams over his executive order that blocks the implementation of a ban on solitary confinement in city jails. The lawsuit claims that Adams' action is an 'unprecedented' abuse of power and an overstep of his authority. The contention arises from Adams' emergency executive orders, which were issued to suspend parts of the law due to an alleged state of emergency caused by the imminent effective date of the ban. The Council and Williams argue that these orders are arbitrary and capricious, and they are seeking to invalidate them through legal action. They assert that Adams' orders exacerbate the human rights crisis on Rikers Island and perpetuate failed policies.