Quote:In a major win for criminal justice reform advocates, an appeals court ruled Tuesday that New York Police Department disciplinary records can be released to the public after a lawsuit from law enforcement unions sought to block their release.

Until last year, law enforcement disciplinary records were shielded from public view under a law passed in the 1970s. The law, known as 50-a, was repealed by state lawmakers last year amid the unrest following the death of George Floyd. After the law was repealed, Mayor Bill de Blasio de Blasio announced a plan to create a public and searchable database of NYPD disciplinary records. The coalition of unions sued to block their release soon after.

“Now, we can go even further to restore accountability and trust to the disciplinary process. Good riddance to 50-A. We look forward to releasing this data and will seek clarity from the court regarding when these records can be released.” de Blasio said in a statement.

de Blasio said the city will be releasing the data after the officials get “clarity from the court regarding when these records can be released.”