Q&A
Mayor's obligation to enforce local laws and seeking judicial intervention
0:11:35
·
92 sec
Speaker Adams questions Goode-Trufant about the mayor's obligation to enforce local laws, even if believed to be unlawful, and the process of seeking judicial intervention. Goode-Trufant emphasizes the need for case-by-case analysis and disagrees with a previous opinion on pre-emptive judicial intervention.
- Goode-Trufant states that analysis must be done on a case-by-case basis, considering factors such as ripeness for judicial review and superseding Federal or State law
- She disagrees with Randy Mastro's opinion that the mayor should seek judicial intervention before a law's effective date if believed to be unlawful
- The exchange highlights the complexity of balancing mayoral authority with the enforcement of local laws
Adrienne E. Adams
0:11:35
Thank you.
0:11:37
Missus Goodtruffont, during our August hearing on the nomination of Randy Mastro for the role of corporation counsel, Mister Mastro opined that if the mayor believes a duly enacted local law is unlawful, he should ask the law department to seek judicial intervention before the effective date of such law.
0:11:58
Do you agree that in the absence of such judicial intervention by the may such judicial intervention, the mayor has an obligation to enforce the laws of the city?
Muriel Goode-Trufant
0:12:10
Any analysis of this question must be done on a case by case basis.
0:12:16
For example, a court would likely reject a case brought before the actual enactment of a law because the issue would not yet be right for judicial review at that point.
0:12:27
There also may be other considerations such as superseding Federal or State law.
0:12:34
Therefore, it is important to evaluate each circumstance on the facts presented at the time.
Adrienne E. Adams
0:12:42
Okay.
0:12:42
But the question was I'm gonna ask it again.
0:12:48
Mister Mastro opined that if the mayor believes a duly enacted law, local law is unlawful, He should ask the law department to seek judicial intervention before the effective date of such law.
0:13:02
And the question was, do you agree?
0:13:05
I do not agree.
Muriel Goode-Trufant
0:13:06
Okay.
0:13:07
Thank you.
