Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

206 N.J. Super. 608

503 A.2d 376

Matthews v. Deane

MICHAEL J. MATTHEWS, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC CITY, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, v. ADELAIDE DEANE, THE CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC CITY, AND JAMES W. MASLAND, III, DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS.

New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division

Submitted November 27, 1985.

Decided January 13, 1986.

New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division · decided 1986-01-13

Cited by 6 later decisions — most recently March 2002

6 state decisions

Relies on Busik v. Levine · Butz v. Carter · 139 N.J. Super. 132 - De Rose v. Byrne

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1986-01-13

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1*609 Before Judges FRITZ, BRODY and GAYNOR.

¶2Tort, Jacobs, Todd & Bruso, attorneys for appellant (Edwin J. Jacobs, Jr., on the brief).

¶3Eisenstat, Gabage & Berman, attorneys for respondent James W. Masland, III (Gerald M. Eisenstat and Suzanne Pasley, on the brief).

¶4PER CURIAM.

¶5In this appeal, plaintiff attacks the validity of a recall election that resulted in his being deposed as mayor of Atlantic City. Following the entry of judgment in the trial court, plaintiff pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges. As a consequence, he is "forever disqualified" from the holding of public office in New Jersey. N.J.S.A. 2C:51-2. Accordingly, his appeal is moot with respect to all issues raised below from which this appeal is taken.

¶6While it is clear that we may determine a moot appeal when the public interest in the issues presented is so great as to make their resolution desirable, Busik v. Levine,63 N.J. 351, 364 (1973), app. dism. 414 U.S. 1106, 94 S.Ct. 831, 38 L.Ed.2d 733 (1973), we think the circumstances of the matter before us bespeak restraint. The very nature of the controversy here and the issues it presents suggest that we should not indulge in that which would constitute an advisory opinion with respect to the policy questions involved. We are satisfied we should leave them to be decided in the milieu of the factual situation which requires their decision. De Rose v. Byrne,139 N.J. Super. 132 (App.Div. 1976).

¶7In such case, our opinion should not be construed as either approval or disapproval of that which is said in the published trial court opinions in the matter: 196 N.J. Super. 428 (Ch.Div. *610 1984); 196 N.J. Super. 441 (Ch.Div. 1984); 201 N.J. Super. 583 (Ch.Div. 1984). De Rose v. Byrne, supra139 N.J. Super. at 134.

¶8Appeal dismissed.

/206/njsuper/608 · .json · Public domain