Rule 27-104 NMRA
Rule 27-104. Filing and service.
A. Filing. Papers required or permitted to be filed in the Supreme Court shall be
filed with the clerk. Filing by mail is not complete until actual receipt. Filing by electronic
transmission in accordance with Rule 12-307.2 NMRA is mandatory for all attorneys
filing papers under these rules except for judges representing themselves in a
proceeding under these rules.
B. Filing under seal before the conclusion of formal proceedings. To protect
the privileged and confidential nature of proceedings that are pending before the
Commission as required by Article VI, Section 32 of the New Mexico Constitution, any
papers filed in the Supreme Court before the conclusion of formal proceedings in the
Commission shall be automatically sealed from public access and shall not be disclosed
to anyone other than Court personnel, the parties to the proceeding, and their counsel,
without further order of the Court. For purposes of this paragraph, the conclusion of
formal proceedings occurs when the Commission holds an evidentiary hearing and
issues findings, conclusions, and a recommendation for removal, retirement, or
discipline based on that evidence. Accordingly, petitions for temporary suspension and
responses filed pursuant to Rule 27-201 NMRA, stipulated petitions for discipline, and
any request for interim relief under Paragraph E of Rule 32 of the Judicial Standards
Commission Rules filed before conclusion of formal proceedings and submission to the
Court of the Commission record pursuant to Article VI, Section 32, are subject to the
automatic sealing provisions of this paragraph. The contents, the fact of filing, and any
other information about any request for temporary suspension, stipulated discipline, or
interim relief shall remain confidential until the Court determines that confidentiality is no
longer required and enters an unsealing order on its own initiative or grants a motion to
unseal pursuant to Paragraph I of Rule 12-314 NMRA. The Clerk of the Court shall
open the case with the Commission’s assigned inquiry number as the style of the case
and docket pleadings only as sealed pleadings. Any papers filed under the provisions of
this paragraph shall be clearly labeled "Filed Under Seal". In the event the Court rejects
the stipulated discipline or denies the request for interim relief, the documents under
seal shall be returned to the Commission and shall not become public record. Any other
requests to seal papers filed with the Court shall be governed by the provisions of Rule
12-314 NMRA of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. Any person or entity who knowingly
discloses any material obtained from a court record sealed pursuant to this rule may be
held in contempt or subject to other sanctions as the Court deems appropriate.
C. Service of all papers required. Copies of all papers filed by any party and not
required by these rules to be served by the clerk shall be served by the party on all
other parties to the proceeding. Service shall be upon the attorney of record of the party
to be served or upon the party if the party has no attorney. Service may be made by
either personal service or by mail. Except for service upon a judge who is self-
represented, service by electronic transmission is also permitted in accordance with the
requirements of Rule 12-307.2 NMRA. Service shall be made at or before the time of
filing the paper in the Supreme Court.
D. Service on incompetent persons. If there is an issue of the mental competency
of a judge who is not represented by counsel, service shall be made upon a guardian ad
litem appointed to represent the judge in the proceedings.
E. Proof of service. Proof of service, in the form of written acknowledgment of the
party to be served or certificate of the clerk of the court or of the attorney making
service, or affidavit of any other person, shall state the name and address of counsel on
whom service has been made, or the name and address of the party if the party has no
attorney. Such proof of service shall be filed with the papers filed or immediately after
service is effected.