New Jersey Civil Service Law: Major Discipline Versus Minor Discipline
Discipline is a major component of New Jersey’s Civil Service system. Discipline under New Jersey Civil Service law is either “major” or “minor.”
Major Discipline
The main procedural consequence of the difference major discipline and minor discipline is that major discipline can be appealed to the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, while minor discipline can only be challenged in the Superior Court of New Jersey. Major discipline is defined as a suspension or fine of more than five days. Major discipline includes removal, disciplinary demotion, and suspension or fine for more than five working days. The touchstone for all civil service disciplinary procedures, however, is that “The theme of fairness threads its way through the notice, hearing, and right of appeal provisions of our Civil Service Act, and finds particular pertinence in those sections requiring that the causes for [discipline, including] removal constituting ‘just cause’ be enumerated with specificity.”