City of Cambridge v. Civil Service Commission

On the basis of a competitive examination, Leslie Langston had qualified in December, 1992, for appointment as a police officer in Cambridge. The appointing authority of that city developed some adverse facts about Langston in a record check and obtained permission from the administrator of the State Department of Personnel Administration (the “Administrator”) to “bypass” her in accordance with G. L. c. 31, § 27. The Civil Service Commission reversed and ordered that the city re-certify Langston. A judge of the Superior Court, who considered the case under the State Administrative Procedure…