New York Repeals 1907 Adultery Law

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has signed a bill repealing a 117-year-old law that criminalized adultery, which was previously classified as a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail. The law, which had become largely obsolete, was rarely enforced, with only 13 arrests since the 1970s and only five convictions recorded. Hochul described the law as 'silly' and 'outdated', emphasizing that matters of infidelity should be resolved privately rather than through the criminal justice system. The repeal reflects a broader trend as other states also reconsider similar laws, many of which are seldom applied. Assemblymember Charles Lavine, who sponsored the legislation, noted that the adultery law did not serve as a deterrent and had lost its original purpose. The last notable enforcement occurred in 2010, when a charge was dismissed following a plea deal.