Judge Blocks NYC Mayor Adams’ Solitary Confinement Suspension

A New York State Supreme Court judge ruled that Mayor Eric Adams overstepped his authority by using emergency powers to block a local law banning solitary confinement in city jails, including Rikers Island. The judge emphasized that the City Council's override of Adams' veto represented a democratic process that Adams could not circumvent through an emergency declaration. Adams had vetoed the solitary confinement ban, arguing it was necessary for the safety of detainees and correction officers, but the City Council overrode his veto, citing concerns over the harm solitary confinement causes. The judge noted that Adams should have sought a court injunction rather than issuing emergency orders to delay the law's implementation. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams praised the ruling as a victory for local democracy and human rights, while Mayor Adams maintained that solitary confinement was already banned under a 2019 state law. The decision comes amid ongoing federal oversight of Rikers Island due to unsafe conditions and highlights tensions between the mayor and council over criminal justice reforms.