ALBANY, NY. (WHAM) -- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's mask mandate was ruled unconstitutional Monday by State Supreme Court Judge Thomas Rademaker. Hochul enacted the mandate in Dec. 2021 during a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant. Judge Rademaker concluded that neither the governor nor the state health commissioner has the authority to impose the mask mandate and the state legislature would need to approve specific laws to require masks in schools and certain public places.

"Judge Rademaker concluded that neither the governor nor the state health commissioner has the authority to impose the mask mandate and the state legislature would need to approve specific laws to require masks in schools and certain public places."