A little-known law dating back to 1907 that criminalizes adultery in the state of New York is on the verge of being repealed. The state Senate recently passed a bill to abolish this law, with overwhelming support. The decision now rests with Governor Kathy Hochul, who is currently engaged in budget negotiations and will review the legislation. The state Assembly had already approved the measure last month.
The law prohibiting adultery was initially enacted to reduce the number of divorces, as at the time, adultery was the sole grounds for obtaining a legal divorce. Adultery is defined in New York as engaging in sexual intercourse with someone other than one's spouse while either party is married.
Although the law has been in place for over a century, it has rarely been enforced in recent years. The most recent known case of an adultery charge in New York dates back to 2010 when a woman was caught in a public park engaging in a sexual act. However, the charge was eventually dropped as part of a plea deal.
While New York is moving towards repealing its adultery law, similar laws still exist in several other states across the country. Most states treat adultery as a misdemeanor offense, but some, such as Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Michigan, classify it as a felony.
The repeal of the 1907 adultery law in New York marks a significant step towards modernizing the state's legal framework and aligning it with contemporary societal norms.
