NYSBA Commends Gov. Hochul, State Legislators for New Law That Opens up Mental Health Courts to More New Yorkers
12.11.2025
Kathleen Sweet, president of The New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about S.8312/A.7563:
“Gov. Hochul has approved a new law that allows residents with mental health challenges to have their cases heard in a court in another jurisdiction if no such specialized court exists in the county where they reside. The New York State Bar Association Task Force on Mental Health and Trauma Informed Representation found that the failure to provide meaningful treatment options for people with mental illness has resulted in too many New Yorkers being funneled through our overburdened criminal justice system. This new law is a significant step in the right direction.”
