New York Repeals Century-Old Adultery Law

New York has officially repealed its century-old law criminalizing adultery, a move signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul. The law, which had been in place since 1907, classified adultery as a misdemeanor that could result in up to three months in jail, though it had rarely been enforced with only a handful of charges and fewer convictions since the 1970s. Hochul emphasized that matters of infidelity should be handled privately rather than through the criminal justice system, noting the complexities of personal relationships. State Assemblyman Charles Lavine, the bill's sponsor, highlighted the law's ineffectiveness as a deterrent and its antiquated nature, pointing out that similar laws are being repealed in several states. The repeal reflects a broader trend against laws that aim to legislate morality, especially those historically viewed as discriminatory. New York is now one of five states to have repealed such laws since 2015.