Today is the observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. It is both a federal and a New Jersey holiday that is observed on the third Monday of January, even though Dr. King’s actual birthday was January 15. But back in 1975, the holiday was observed on January 15, and there was controversy as to whether State employees got the day off. The Supreme Court heard oral argument in American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees v. State, 66 N.J. 295 (1975), on January 14, 1975, one day before the holiday, and rendered a unanimous per curiam opinion on that same date. The opinion, in its entirety, says “Certification is granted and the judgment of the Appellate Division is reversed. We have determined that proper interpretation of the agreements leads to the conclusion that the parties have bargained for and agreed upon the designation of January 15 (Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday) as a paid holiday for the membership of the plaintiff associations.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
