Title: BRET SCHUNDLER, et al. v. KATHLEEN DONOVAN, et al.
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: a-126-04
State: new-jersey
Issuer: new-jersey Supreme Court
Date: May 6, 2005

Plaintiffs-Respondents, v. KATHLEEN DONOVAN, in her official capacity as Bergen County Clerk, STEVEN LONEGAN, and PAUL DiGAETANO, Defendants-Appellants, and JOHN MURPHY, DOUGLAS FORRESTER, TODD CALIGUIRE, and ROBERT SCHROEDER, Defendants, and REPUBLICAN COUNTY CHAIRMAN'S ORGANIZATION and REPUBLICAN COUNTY COMMITTEES for the COUNTIES OF BERGEN, BURLINGTON, ESSEX, HUDSON, HUNTERDON, MERCER, MONMOUTH, OCEAN, SALEM, SOMERSET, SUSSEX, and PASSAIC, Intervenors-Appellants. ---------------------------------------- BRET SCHUNDLER, RICHARD BRADFORD, and RICHARD BRADFORD a/k/a BRET 2005, Plaintiffs, v. JAMES HOGAN, GLOUCESTER COUNTY CLERK, and/or John Does 1-15 (fictitious defendant(s) who caused damage to plaintiffs), Defendant-Respondent. ----------------------------------------- FORRESTER FOR GOVERNOR, INC., and DOUGLAS FORRESTER, Individually, Plaintiff, v. KATHLEEN A. DONOVAN, CLERK OF THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, and PAUL DiGAETANO, STEVEN LONEGAN, Defendants-Respondents, and PETER HARVEY, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW JERSEY, TODD CALIGUIRE, JOHN MURPHY, ROBERT SCHROEDER, and BRET SCHUNDLER, Defendants. Submitted May 5, 2005 -- Decided May 6, 2005 On certification to the Superior Court, Appellate Division, whose opinion is reported at ____ N.J.Super. _____ (2005). Ernest P. Fronzuto submitted a brief on behalf of appellant Paul DiGaetano, et al. (A-126)(Piro, Zinna, Cifelli, Paris, &amp; Genitempo, P.C., attorneys). Steven S. Polinsky submitted letter briefs on behalf of appellant Steven Lonegan (A-127). Mark D. Sheridan submitted briefs on behalf of appellants Republican County Chairman's Organizations, etc., et al. (A-128)(Drinker, Biddle &amp; Reath LLP). John M. Carbone submitted letter briefs on behalf of respondents Kathleen A. Donovan, et al. (Carbone and Faasse, attorneys). Thaddeus R. Maciag submitted a brief on behalf of respondents Bret Schundler, et al. (Maciag Law, LLC, Howes &amp; Howes, and Barry, McTiernan &amp; Moore, attorneys; W. Timothy Howes, and Sean M. Connelly on the brief). Peter G. Sheridan submitted letter briefs on behalf of respondents Forrester for Governor, Inc., et al. (Graham, Curtin &amp; Sheridan). Douglas F. Doyle submitted letter briefs on behalf of respondent John Murphy (Edwards &amp; Caldwell, LLC, attorneys; John A. Stone on the briefs). PER CURIAM The judgment is affirmed substantially for the reasons expressed by the Appellate Division in the opinion of Judge Kestin reported at ___ N.J. Super. ___ (2005). We add only the following. The Appellate Division suggested several possibilities to achieve the results it ordered, including altered type face and ballot reorganization. We note that N.J.S.A. 19:23-26.1 specifically contemplates such a flexible approach insofar as it provides that in the case of a primary election for the nomination of a candidate for the office of Governor, the names of all candidates for the office of . . . Governor shall be printed on the official primary ballot in the first column or horizontal row designated for the party of those candidates. (emphasis added). Accord N.J.S.A. 19:49-2. The question has been raised whether the decision of the Appellate Division applies to all twenty-one counties. We hold that it does. CHIEF JUSTICE PORITZ and JUSTICES LONG, ZAZZALI, ALBIN, WALLACE, and RIVERA-SOTO join in the Court's opinion. JUSTICE LaVECCHIA did not participate.