Rule 5-826 NMRA
Rule 5-826. Appeals from magistrate or municipal court.
A. Right of appeal. A party who is aggrieved by the judgment or final order in a
criminal action in magistrate or municipal court may appeal, as permitted by law, to the
district court of the county within which the magistrate or municipal court is located. The
notice of appeal shall be filed in the district court within fifteen (15) days after the
judgment or final order appealed from is filed in the magistrate or municipal court clerk's
office. The three (3) day mailing period set forth in Rule 6-104 NMRA does not apply to
the time limits set forth above. A notice of appeal filed after the announcement of a
decision, or return of the verdict, but before the judgment or order is filed in the
magistrate or municipal court clerk's office, shall be treated as timely filed and shall
become effective when the judgment or order appealed from is filed in the magistrate or
municipal court clerkโs office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this rule, no docket
fee or other cost shall be imposed against the state or its political subdivisions or
against a defendant who is represented by a public defender or court appointed
counsel.
B. Notice of appeal. An appeal from the magistrate or municipal court is taken by
doing the following:
(1)
filing with the clerk of the district court a notice of appeal with a copy of the
written judgment or final order appealed from (if available) and with proof of service; and
(2)
promptly filing with the magistrate or municipal court, as applicable:
(a) a copy of the notice of appeal which has been endorsed by the clerk of the
district court; and
(b) unless the appeal has been filed by the state, a political subdivision of the
state or by a defendant represented by a public defender or court appointed counsel, a
copy of the receipt of payment of the docket fee.
C. Content of the notice of appeal. The notice of appeal shall be substantially in
the form approved by the Supreme Court.
D. Service of notice of appeal. At the time the notice of appeal is filed in the
district court, the appellant shall do the following:
(1)
serve each party or each party's attorney in the proceedings in the
magistrate or municipal court, as applicable, with a copy of the notice of appeal in
accordance with Rule 5-103 NMRA; and
(2)
file proof of service with the clerk of the district court that a copy of the
notice of appeal has been served in accordance with Rule 5-103 NMRA.
E. Docketing the appeal. Upon the filing of the notice of appeal and proof of
service and payment of the docket fee, if required, the clerk of the district court shall
docket the appeal in the district court.
F. Record on appeal. Within fifteen (15) days after the appellant files a copy of the
notice of appeal in the magistrate or municipal court pursuant to Paragraph B of this
rule, the magistrate or municipal court shall file with the clerk of the district court the
record on appeal taken in the action in the magistrate or municipal court. For purposes
of this rule, the record on appeal shall consist of the following:
(1)
a title page containing the caption of the case in the magistrate or
municipal court and the names and mailing addresses of each party or, if the party is
represented by counsel, the name and address of the attorney;
(2)
a copy of all papers and pleadings filed in the magistrate or municipal
court;
(3)
a copy of the judgment or final order sought to be reviewed with date of
filing; and
(4)
any exhibits.
The magistrate or municipal court clerk shall give prompt notice to all parties of the
filing of the record on appeal with the district court. Any party desiring a copy of the
record on appeal shall be responsible for paying the cost of preparing the copy.
G. Correction or modification of the record. If anything material to either party is
omitted from the record on appeal by error or accident, the parties by stipulation, or the
magistrate or municipal court or the district court, on proper suggestion or on its own
initiative, may direct that the omission be corrected and a supplemental record
transmitted to the district court.
H. Conditions of release. If the magistrate or municipal court has set an appeal
bond pursuant to Rule 6-703 NMRA, upon filing of the notice of appeal, the bond shall
be transferred to the district court pending disposition of the appeal. The district court
shall dispose of all matters relating to the appeal bond until remand to the magistrate or
municipal court.
I. Review of terms of release. If the magistrate or municipal court has refused
release pending appeal or has imposed conditions of release which the defendant
cannot meet, the defendant may file a petition for release with the clerk of the district
court at any time after the filing of the notice of appeal. A copy of the petition for release
which has been endorsed by the clerk of the district court shall be filed with the
magistrate or municipal court. If the district court releases the defendant on appeal, a
copy of the order of release shall be filed in the magistrate or municipal court.
J. Trial de novo appeals. Trials upon appeals from the magistrate or municipal
court to the district court shall be de novo.
K. Disposal of appeals. The district court shall dispose of appeals by entry of a
judgment and sentence or other final order. The court in its discretion may accompany
the judgment or order with a formal or memorandum opinion. Opinions shall not be
published and shall not be used as precedent in subsequent cases. A mandate shall be
issued by the court upon expiration of whichever of the following events occurs latest:
(1)
fifteen (15) days after entry of the order disposing of the case;
(2)
fifteen (15) days after disposition of a motion for rehearing; or
(3)
if a notice of appeal is filed, upon final disposition of the appeal.
L. Remand. Upon expiration of the time for appeal from the judgment or final order
of the district court, if the relief granted is within the jurisdiction of the magistrate court,
the district court shall remand the case to the magistrate or municipal court for
enforcement of the district court's judgment.
M. Appeal. Any aggrieved person may appeal from a judgment of the district court
to the New Mexico Supreme Court or Court of Appeals, as authorized by law in
accordance with the Rules of Appellate Procedure [12-101 NMRA]. The conditions of
release and bond approved or continued in effect by the district court during the
pendency of the appeal to the district court shall continue in effect pending appeal to the
Court of Appeals, unless modified pursuant to Rule 12-205 NMRA of the Rules of
Appellate Procedure.
N. Transmittal of the judgment and sentence or final order. After final
determination of the appeal, the clerk of the district court shall transmit a copy of the
judgment and sentence or final order to the magistrate or municipal court clerk.