BRET SCHUNDLER, et al. v. KATHLEEN DONOVAN, et al.

SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
A-126/127/ 128 September Term 2004
 
 
 
BRET SCHUNDLER, DIANE SANK,
and BRET2005,

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,
& 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 & 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 & Howes, and Barry, McTiernan & 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 & Sheridan).

Douglas F. Doyle submitted letter briefs
on behalf of respondent John Murphy (Edwards
& 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.