p. 458The People of the State of New York ex rel. Michael Maharin, Relator, v. William Plimley, Commissioner of Jurors of the City and County of New York, Respondent.Headnote
The commissioner of jurors of New York city may discharge a clerk without a hearing.The commissioner of jurors of the city of New York is not the head of a department within the meaning of section 48 of the Consolidation Act (Laws of 1883, chap. 410), and the provisions of that section, that no regular clerk shall be removed until he has been informed of the cause of the proposed removal and has been allowed an opportunity of making an explanation, do not apply to the case of a clerk appointed by such commissioner.
Such commissioner is empowered by section 1664 of the Consolidation Act to from time to time appoint and at pleasure remove his assistants, clerk and messengers.
Certiorari issued out of the Supreme Court and attested on the 14th day of August, 1895, directed to William Plimley, commissioner of jurors of the city and county of New York, commanding-him to certify and return to the office of the clerk of the county of New York all and singular his proceedings in reference to the dismissal of the relator from his position as a clerk in the office of the commissioner of jurors in the city of New York.
Edmund Luis Mooney, for the relator.
Thomas E. Mush, for the respondent.
The commissioner of jurors, although appointed by the mayor under section 106 of the Consolidation Act (Laws of 1882, chap. 410), is not the head of a department within -section 48 of that act. The office does not relate to the municipal government of the city of New York, is no part of the legislative or executive government of the city, and is in no sense a department of the city government.
Section 48 of the Consolidation Act, upon which the relator relies, is a part of chapter 3 of the act. Chapter 2 is entitled : “ The corporate powers and their distribution.” And section 34, after providing for the legislative and executive departments, enumerates the other departments of the city of New York, of which the com
p. 459missioner of jurors is not one. Chapter 3 is entitled: “ General provisions, powers and limitations applicable to the departments and officers.” Section 48 provides: “ The heads’ of all departments, * * * shall have power to appoint and remove all chiefs of bureaus * * * as also all clerks, officers, employees and subordinates in their respective departments. * * * But no regular clerk or head of a bureau shall be removed until he has been informed of the cause of the proposed removal, and has been allowed an opportunity of making an explanation.” It is clear that this section relates only to departments constituted by chapter 2. This distinction is recognized in section 106 of the Consolidation Act, which prescribes the duties of the
mayor. His power to appoint the commissioner of jurors does not come under the power given to him to appoint the heads of departments. He has, in addition to that power, the power to appoint the commissioner of jurors; and by section 1664 of the Consolidation Act, the commissioner of jurors is given the express power to appoint from time to time, and at pleasure remove, his assistants, clerks and messengers.
We think it clear, therefore, that the respondent had power to remove the relator at any time, at pleasure and without cause. The proceeding, therefore, must be dismissed with fifty dollars costs.
Van Brunt, P. J., Barrett, Bumsey and Williams, JJ.,. concurred.
Proceeding dismissed, with fifty dollars costs.