gistfile1.js

var myList = [
                {"id": 1, "sortOrder": 4},
                {"id": 2, "sortOrder": 2},
                {"id": 3, "sortOrder": 3},
                {"id": 4, "sortOrder": 1}
        ];

myList = sortByKey(myList, "sortOrder");

function sortByKey(array, key) {
    return array.sort(function(a, b) {
        var x = a[key]; var y = b[key];
        return ((x < y) ? -1 : ((x > y) ? 1 : 0));
    });
}