A government watchdog who attempted to have former Gov. Chris Christie prosecuted for official misconduct in connection with the Bridgegate scandal has no standing to demand that a special prosecutor be appointed in the case, a New Jersey appeals court has ruled.

The three-judge Appellate Division panel in an unpublished opinion released Monday turned aside an appeal from retired Teaneck firefighter William Brennan, who had asked that a special prosecutor be appointed to review the case, in which a complaint filed by Brennan previously was dismissed.