Fuchs

Petitioner David Fuchs sought alternative forms of relief, i.e., either a writ of mandate or certiorari, or a declaratory judgment, relative to the design, grading and conduct of a promotional examination by the defendants, the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission (hereinafter, the Commission), and the Los Angeles District Attorney. Also named as defendants were persons who qualified, as the result of the promotional examination in question here, for inclusion on a promotional fist prepared by the defendants. The trial court denied the petitioner any relief, and he has appealed the judgment.

The factual background of this dispute is as follows: David Fuchs presently occupies the position of deputy district attorney, grade IV, in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office, as he did on August 31, 1970. when the Commission announced that it would hold a promotional examination for the position of head deputy district attorney. Promotional examinations are conducted under the immediate supervision of the Los Angeles County Director of Personnel.

The general format of the examination was that each applicant was required to give information about his educational…