Rule 17B-008 NMRA
Rule 17B-008. Immunities.
A. Immunity from civil suit. Members of the Disciplinary Board, hearing officers,
disciplinary counsel, their respective staff, and any other agents of the Disciplinary
Board shall be immune from suit as provided by statute or common law for all conduct
in the course of their official duties. Immunity from suit shall also extend, as provided by
statute or common law, to complainants and witnesses for all communications to the
Disciplinary Board, hearing officers, or disciplinary counsel relating to allegations of
unauthorized practice of law.
B. Witness use immunity. If a person has been or may be called to testify or to
produce a record, document, or other object in an official proceeding conducted under
these rules, such person or disciplinary counsel may file a written application with the
Supreme Court requesting the Court to issue a written order requiring the person to
testify or to produce the record, document, or other object notwithstanding the person’s
privilege against self-incrimination. Disciplinary counsel shall give the appropriate
prosecuting authority notice of any application filed under this paragraph. After
considering the application and any objection filed by the appropriate prosecuting
authority, the Court may grant the application and may issue a written order under this
paragraph if the Court makes the following findings:
(1)
production of the testimony, record, document, or other object may be
necessary to protect the public interest; and
(2)
the person has refused or is likely to refuse to testify or to produce the
record, document, or other object on the basis of the person’s privilege against self-
incrimination.
C. Use of evidence obtained under immunity order precluded. Where evidence
has been obtained under the provisions of this rule through an order requiring a person
to testify or to produce a record, document, or other object notwithstanding the person’s
privilege against self-incrimination, neither that evidence nor any information directly or
indirectly derived from that evidence may be used against the person in any criminal
case except a prosecution for perjury committed in the course of testifying or in a
contempt proceeding for failure to comply with the order.