State Courts Overturns Mask Mandate – Governor Vows to Reverse

New York State Supreme Court Judge Thomas Rademaker struck down Governor Kathy Hochul’s statewide mask mandate for schools and public locations. We understand this to include restaurants, taverns, bars, etc. According to the court document, Judge Rademaker stated that neither the Governor nor the New York State Health Commissioner have the authority to enact such a mandate without the approval of the New York State Legislature. The full court document can be found here.

Governor Hochul has issued the following statement:

“My responsibility as Governor is to protect New Yorkers throughout this public health crisis, and these measures help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. We strongly disagree with this rule, and we are pursuing every option to reverse this immediately.”

We will update you as we become aware of any developments surrounding this issue.