Dickens v. Department of Juvenile Justice

Appellant, Gary Dickens, challenges a final order of the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) dismissing his appeal of a suspension for conduct that occurred while his job was classified as a career service position. After the conduct at issue and before the suspension, the classification of Dickens’ position was changed from career service to selected exempt service. In dismissing the appeal, PERC found it had no jurisdiction because Dickens was not a career service employee at the time of his suspension. We reverse.

Dickens had a property interest in his career service position, as…