Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Laurence Love is weighing the future of a New York City law banning the police use of choke holds or diaphragm compression after a hearing Tuesday morning in which DLA Piper partner Anthony Paul Coles, who is representing a group of New York City-area police unions challenging the law, argued that city officials’ public statements have already acknowledged the law’s weaknesses.

Coles argued that the law, which was passed after George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in May, violates police officers’ due process rights because it is unconstitutionally vague and does not adequately explain what police officers are allowed to do during an arrest. Moreover, Cole argued, the law is preempted by a New York state law addressing similar conduct.