Attorneys representing New York City and mental health advocacy groups sparred in a Manhattan courtroom Monday over Mayor Eric Adams’ directive on the involuntary hospitalization of people who appear to be mentally ill.

Alan Scheiner, senior counsel at the New York City Law Department, argued that Adams simply announced the implementation of preexisting law and related training for police officers, while attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that Adams had effectively lowered the standard for the detention of mentally ill people.