Nash v. Interstate Commerce Commission
Nash v. Interstate Commerce Commission
Opinion of the Court
Prior to the decision of the Supreme Court in Riss & Co., Inc., v. United States, 341 U.S. 907, 71 S.Ct. 620, 95 L.Ed. 1345 (April 16, 1951), plaintiff-appellant Nash was employed by the Interstate Commerce Commission as an “Examiner” in Grade GS-9. He held hearings in cases similar to Riss. He was not an examiner appointed pursuant to Section 11 of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C.A. § 1010, although he had, while in his Interstate Commerce Commission position, taken and passed an examination to that end and was listed on a register of eligibles for such appointment in Grades GS-11, GS-12 or GS-13. Under a rule previously established by the Civil Service Commission the minimum grade of a Section 11 hearing examiner was GS-11, a higher-salaried grade than that occupied by Nash.
After the decision in Riss, the Interstate Commerce Commission could no longer utilize — for proceedings of the type there involved — examiners not appointed under Section 11. A regulation of the Civil Service Commission authorized the appointment of incumbent examiners, if they could meet certain required conditions, as Section 11 hearing
In our view, plaintiff-appellant’s demand is in essence this: that he be selected for a higher rated post and paid a higher salary. Such a demand is primarily one for consideration and decision by the agencies involved, and not by the courts. Powell v. Brannan, 1952, 91 U.S.App.D.C. 16, 196 F.2d 871; Cf. Ramspeck v. Federal Trial Examiners Conference, 1953, 345 U.S. 128, at page 138, 73 S.Ct. 570, 97 L.Ed. 872. Nothing in the governing statutes and regulations gave plaintiff a vested right to the appointment he seeks. No procedural error was committed. There was no misconstruction of governing law, and no arbitrary or capricious action.
The judgment of the District Court, dismissing the complaint, must be
Affirmed.
. The regulation authorized the agencies to give noncompetitive appointments to positions which were re-allocated as hearing examiner positions on the basis of legislation, executive order or court decision subsequent to June 11, 1947. 16 Fed.Reg. 3527, 5 C.F.R. § 34.5(b) (3); now 16 Fed.Reg. 9626, 5 C.F.R. § 34.5 (b). See also 16 Fed.Reg. 9623, 5 C.F. : R. § 34.3(e).
. He was advised that he would be appointed to .a hearing examiner position, when he was reached on the register. In the meantime, he was assigned by the Commission to work not involving the hearing of cases.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Simon J. NASH, individually and on behalf of all eligibles and preference eligibles awaiting appointment to Hearing Examiner positions by certification from official registers established by the Civil Service Commission on the basis of its open competitive examination, conducted under Section 11 of the Administrative-Procedure Act v. INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION, and Philip Young, George M. Moore, and Frederick J. Lawton, as Members of the United States Civil Service Commission
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published