Bertone v. Sullivan

• Decision Date: 21 March 1951
• Docket Number: No. A--111,A--111
• Citation: 79 A.2d 685,12 N.J.Super. 330
• Parties: BERTONE et al. v. SULLIVAN et al.
• Court: New Jersey Superior Court — Appellate Division

Page 330

12 N.J.Super. 330

79 A.2d 685

BERTONE et al. v. SULLIVAN et al.

No. A--111.

Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.

Argued March 5, 1951.

Decided March 21, 1951.

James Rosen, Union City, argued the cause for the plaintiff-appellant.

Frederick J. Gassert, Harrison, argued the cause for the defendants-respondents (Daniel T. O'Regan, Jersey City, attorney).

Before Judges JACOBS, EASTWOOD and BIGELOW.

The opinion of the court was delivered by

EASTWOOD, J.A.D.

The dispositive issue here concerns the authority of the presiding judge of the Hudson County District Court to terminate the services of the plaintiff-appellant in the performance of the duties of a sergeant-at-arms.

In May, 1947, pursuant to the provisions of L.1947, c. 186, N.J.S.A. 2:8--32 note, the appellant was placed on the payroll of the First Judicial District Court of Hudson County at the salary of a sergeant-at-arms. The 1947 act provides, Inter alia: 'In all judicial district courts in the counties of the first class * * * having constables, such constables, if for ten years next preceding July fourth, one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven, have performed the duties required of sergeants-at-arms of such judicial district courts, they shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of sergeant-at-arms of such judicial district courts and shall be entitled to receive the same compensation as is provided for sergeant-at-arms.' The appellant continued to receive such salary until January 31, 1949, when the defendant, presiding judge, Mark A. Sullivan, Jr., for reasons of efficiency and economy, terminated the service of the appellant from the further performance of the duties of sergeants-at-arms and directed that he 'remain attached to the court as a constable on a fee basis only.' See R.S. 2:8--17, N.J.S.A.

The appellant contends that the order of removal was invalid; that the presiding judge had no power by statute or rule to impose the order in question and that if the power of removal existed at all, it could only be exercised by a majority of all the judges of the county district court and not by the presiding judge alone.

On December 31, 1948, by virtue of the provisions of L.1948, c. 264, R.S. 2:8A--1 [79 A.2d 686] et seq., N.J.S.A., the several district courts of Hudson County were consolidated and became branches of the Hudson County District Court. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court designated the Honorable Mark A. Sullivan, Jr. as presiding judge. Judge Sullivan determined that the business of the court did not require the services of 22 persons who were then performing the duties of sergeants-at-arms. Accordingly he removed five of the constables from the payroll. It is undisputed that Bertone had never been appointed a sergeant-at-arms, but was merely receiving that salary by virtue of the provisions of L.1947, c. 186.

Following Judge Sullivan's order, the appellant communicated with the Civil Service Commission protesting his removal. The president of that commission informed him that he had no civil service status and, therefore, the commission lacked jurisdiction to entertain his appeal. The appellant then instituted this action in the Law Division of the Superior Court. The Law Division considered the matter on a stipulation of facts entered into by the parties and rendered a judgment affirming the action of Judge Sullivan.

The appellant does not argue that he possessed any civil service status nor does he claim any rights and privileges other than those he may have under the 1947 act.

R.S. 2:8--31, N.J.S.A., of the District Court Act provides: 'The judge of any district court may appoint one or more sergeants at arms to attend the sittings of the court, preserve order therein, and perform such other duties as the appointing judge may prescribe, and who, when appointed, shall hold office during the pleasure of the judge...