State v. Woodward

The opinion of the court was delivered by

BAIME, J.A.D.

At issue is whether an offer by a candidate for public office to withdraw his candidacy and endorse the incumbent office holder in return for money and a public job violates our bribery statutes under the Code of Criminal Justice. We hold that such conduct is violative of N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2a and d and N.J.S.A. 2C:27-6b.

The salient facts are not in dispute. The Hudson County grand jury returned a multi-count indictment charging defendant with *393violating N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2a and d and N.J.S.A. 2C:27-6b. The gist of the charges was that in the…