Rule 5-403 NMRA
Rule 5-403. Revocation or modification of release orders.
A. Scope. In accordance with this rule, the court may consider revocation of the
defendant’s pretrial release or modification of the defendant’s conditions of release
(1)
if the defendant is alleged to have violated a condition of release; or
(2)
to prevent interference with witnesses or the proper administration of
justice.
B. Revocation or modification of conditions of release.
(1)
The court shall consider revocation of the defendant’s pretrial release or
modification of the defendant’s conditions of release on motion of the prosecutor, on
notice of a non-technical violation of a condition of release by a court pretrial services
agency, or on the court’s own motion.
(2)
The defendant may file a response to the motion, but the filing of a
response shall not delay any hearing under Paragraph D of this rule.
C. Issuance of summons or bench warrant; temporary detention of certain
defendants.
(1)
On motion or notice of a non-technical violation of a condition of release
by a court pretrial services agency, the court shall enter an order with specific findings
about why amended or revoked conditions of release are unnecessary, or the court
shall issue a summons and notice of hearing, unless the court finds that the interests of
justice may be better served by the issuance of a bench warrant. The summons or
bench warrant shall include notice of the reasons for the review of the pretrial release
decision.
(2)
A defendant previously released by any court in this state pending any
felony charge or pending a charge for an enumerated misdemeanor, who is arrested
and charged with a new felony or new enumerated misdemeanor defined in Rule 5-
403.1 NMRA alleged to have occurred during the period of initial release, shall be held
without conditions of release pending a hearing under Paragraph D of this rule. The
hearing required by Paragraph D shall be conducted by the court with current
jurisdiction over the defendant’s initial conditions of release.
(3)
A defendant previously released by any court in this state pending any
felony charge or pending a charge for an enumerated misdemeanor defined in Rule 5-
403.1 NMRA, who is charged but not arrested for a new felony or new enumerated
misdemeanor alleged to have occurred during the period of initial release, shall be
summonsed by the court with current jurisdiction over the defendant’s initial conditions
of release to a hearing required by Paragraph D of this rule, unless the court finds that
the interests of justice may be better served by the issuance of a bench warrant. The
hearing required by Paragraph D shall be conducted by the court with current
jurisdiction over the defendant’s initial conditions of release.
D. Hearing on alleged violation.
(1)
Time. A hearing shall be held as soon as practicable. If the defendant is in
custody, the hearing shall be held no later than five (5) days after the defendant is
detained. If the defendant is not in custody, the hearing shall be held no later than ten
(10) days after the motion or notice of alleged violation is filed.
(2)
At the hearing, the court may continue the existing conditions of release,
set different conditions of release, or if the court is considering revocation of release, the
court shall conduct an evidentiary hearing, unless waived by the defendant.
(3)
Defendant’s rights. The defendant has the right to be present and to be
represented by counsel and, if financially unable to obtain counsel, to have counsel
appointed. If the court is considering revocation of release and an evidentiary hearing is
conducted, the defendant shall be afforded an opportunity to testify, to present
witnesses, to compel the attendance of witnesses, to cross-examine witnesses who
appear at the hearing, and to present information by proffer or otherwise. If the
defendant testifies at the hearing, the defendant’s testimony shall not be used against
the defendant at trial except for impeachment purposes or in a subsequent prosecution
for perjury.
E. Order at completion of hearing.
(1)
If at the conclusion of the hearing, the court continues or amends the
defendant’s conditions of release, then a written order continuing or amending the
defendant’s conditions of release shall be provided to the defendant at the time of the
release from custody if the defendant is in custody, or within three (3) days of the
hearing if the defendant is not in custody.
(2)
If the defendant waives an evidentiary hearing and the court finds that the
conditions of release should be revoked, an order revoking conditions of release,
including written findings of the individualized facts justifying revocation, shall be filed
within three (3) days of the hearing.
(3)
If an evidentiary hearing is conducted, at the completion of the evidentiary
hearing, the court shall determine whether the defendant has violated a condition of
release or whether revocation of the defendant’s release is necessary to prevent
interference with witnesses or the proper administration of justice, and may:
(a) continue the existing conditions of release;
(b) set new or additional conditions of release in accordance with Rule 5-401
NMRA; or
(c) revoke the defendant’s release, if the court
(i)
finds either probable cause to believe that the defendant
committed a federal, state, or local crime while on release, or clear and convincing
evidence that the defendant has willfully violated any other condition of release; and
(ii)
finds clear and convincing evidence that either no condition or
combination of conditions will reasonably ensure the defendant’s compliance with the
release conditions ordered by the court, or revocation of the defendant’s release is
necessary to prevent interference with witnesses or the proper administration of justice.
(4)
If the court revokes conditions of release after an evidentiary hearing, an
order revoking release shall include written findings of the individualized facts justifying
revocation and shall be filed within three (3) days of the evidentiary hearing.
(5)
If the court continues or amends the defendant’s conditions of release
after an evidentiary hearing, then a written order continuing or amending the
defendant’s conditions of release shall be provided to the defendant at the time of
release from custody if the defendant is in custody, or within three (3) days of the
hearing if the defendant is not in custody.
F. Evidence. The New Mexico Rules of Evidence shall not apply to the presentation
and consideration of information at a hearing under this rule.
G. Review of conditions. If the court enters an order setting new or additional
conditions of release, the defendant may file a motion to review the conditions under
Rule 5-401(H) NMRA. If, on disposition of the motion, the defendant is detained or
continues to be detained because of a failure to meet a condition imposed, or is subject
to a requirement to return to custody after specified hours, the defendant may appeal in
accordance with Rule 5-405 NMRA and Rule 12-204 NMRA.
H. Expedited trial scheduling for defendant in custody. The district court shall
provide expedited priority scheduling in a case in which the defendant is detained
pending trial. The court shall hold a status review hearing in any case in which the
defendant has been held for more than six (6) months and every six (6) months
thereafter. The purpose of the status review hearing is to conduct a meaningful review
of the progress of the case. If the court determines that insufficient progress has been
made, then the court shall issue an appropriate scheduling order.
I. Appeal. If the court revokes the defendant’s release, the defendant may appeal
in accordance with Rule 5-405 NMRA and Rule 12-204 NMRA. The appeal shall be
heard in an expedited manner. The defendant shall be detained pending the disposition
of the appeal.
J. Petition for review of revocation order issued by magistrate, metropolitan,
or municipal court. If the magistrate, metropolitan, or municipal court issues an order
revoking the defendant’s release, the defendant may petition the district court for review
under this paragraph.
(1)
Petition; requirements. The petition shall include the specific facts that
warrant review by the district court and may include a request for a hearing. The
petitioner shall promptly
(a) file a copy of the district court petition in the magistrate, metropolitan, or
municipal court;
(b) serve a copy on the district attorney; and
(c) provide a copy to the assigned district court judge.
(2)
Magistrate, metropolitan, or municipal court’s jurisdiction pending
determination of the petition. On the filing of the petition, the magistrate, metropolitan,
or municipal court’s jurisdiction to set or amend conditions of release shall be
suspended pending determination of the petition by the district court. The case shall
proceed in the magistrate, metropolitan, or municipal court while the petition is pending.
(3)
District court review. The district court shall rule on the petition in an
expedited manner.
(a) Within three (3) days after the petition is filed, the district court shall take
one of the following actions:
(i)
issue an order affirming the revocation order; or
(ii)
set a hearing to be held within ten (10) days after the filing of the
petition and promptly send a copy of the notice to the magistrate, metropolitan, or
municipal court.
(b) If the district court holds a hearing on the petition, at the conclusion of the
hearing the court shall issue either an order affirming the revocation order or an order
setting conditions of release in accordance with Rule 5-401 NMRA.
(4)
Transmission of district court order to magistrate, metropolitan, or
municipal court. The district court shall promptly send the order to the magistrate,
metropolitan, or municipal court, and jurisdiction over the conditions of release shall
revert to the magistrate, metropolitan, or municipal court.
(5)
Appeal. If the district court affirms the revocation order, the defendant
may appeal in accordance with Rule 5-405 NMRA and Rule 12-204 NMRA.
K. Judicial discretion; disqualification and excusal. Action by any court on any
matter relating to pretrial release or detention shall not preclude the subsequent
statutory disqualification of a judge. A judge may not be excused from reviewing a lower
court’s order revoking conditions of release unless the judge is required to recuse under
the provisions of the New Mexico Constitution or the Code of Judicial Conduct.