Digital First Media v. Ewing Tp., ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2020); Bozzi v. Borough of Roselle Park, ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2020). Today, Judge Sumners issued an opinion for the Appellate Division in the Bozzi case. Judge Alvarez authored the panel’s opinion in Digital First Media on Wednesday of this week. Both opinions resulted in reversals of the Law Division and wins for the plaintiffs in these Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) cases. Today’s case (actually, two consolidated cases) involved a plaintiff who sought access to dog license records issued by...

In the Matter of Clifton Gauthier, Rockaway Tp., ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2019). Clifton Gauthier, a Rockaway Township police officer, was suspended in January 2014, and later indicted, for allegedly “interfer[ing] with the prosecution of a family member, who was being prosecuted for driving while intoxicated.” He was diverted to the Pretrial Intervention Program (“PTI”), which he successfully completed in January 2017. He was reinstated in March 2017. Gauthier sought back pay for the years of his suspension. The final decision of the Civil Service Commission...

Chief Justice Rabner has issued the general Assignment Order for 2019-2020. It is available here. As occurs every year, the eight Appellate Division Parts have been reshuffled. But some things remain the same. Judge Messano continues as Presiding Judge for Administration, and Judge Sabatino as Deputy Presiding Judge for Administration. Those two judges, as well as Judges Koblitz, Alvarez, Fisher, Yannotti, and Fuentes remain as Presiding Judges of their respective Parts. Judge Fasciale has become the Presiding Judge of Part B, a position previously held by Judge Simonelli. There are two...