Pei Pei Cheng de Castro co-authored “New York May Finally Have an Ethics Commission That’s Here for Good and to Do Good,” which was published by CityLand, a newsletter from the Center for New York City Law at New York Law School.
The article explores how New York State has struggled for decades to maintain a lasting and effective ethics oversight system. The 2022 creation of the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) was a major reform aimed at restoring public trust, featuring a more independent structure, broader investigative authority, and oversight by law school deans. However, COELIG quickly faced legal challenges, including a major constitutional case from former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo.
In February 2025, New York’s highest court upheld COELIG’s structure, ruling it does not violate the separation of powers. This clears the way for the commission to resume enforcement activities and continue its work without further constitutional obstacles. With legal questions resolved, COELIG can now focus on providing ethics guidance, training, and building a body of advisory opinions. The authors argue that instead of more legislation, the state should support the Commission’s work to help ensure lasting integrity in government.
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