By Kevin Shea
NJ.com
TRENTON — A group of state corrections officers hired after they were over the age of 35, who filed suit in an effort to gain entry into a more lucrative state pension system, has lost at the state appellate level.
A three-judge panel in a published opinion Wednesday sided with a lower judge, who in 2013 ruled the officers were enrolled in the proper pension and dismissed their case. The legal efforts by the officers date to 2003.
The officers, all employees of the New Jersey Department of Corrections, were enrolled in the state’s Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) when hired because they were above the age of 35.
They want to be in the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System, or PFRS. Corrections officers can enroll in the PFRS – where retirement benefits are generally greater – but must not be over 35 years old.
Full story: Corrections officers lose appeal to get into better pension