Rule 6-501 NMRA
Rule 6-501. Arraignment; first appearance.
A. Explanation of rights. On the first appearance of the defendant in response to a
summons, warrant, or arrest, the court shall determine that the defendant has been
informed of the following:
(1)
the offense charged;
(2)
the maximum penalty and mandatory minimum penalty, if any, provided
for the offense charged;
(3)
the right to bail or the possibility of pretrial detention under Rule 5-401(G)
NMRA;
(4)
the right, if any, to the assistance of counsel at every stage of the
proceedings;
(5)
the right, if any, to representation by an attorney at state expense;
(6)
the right to remain silent, and that any statement made by the defendant
may be used against the defendant;
(7)
the right, if any, to a jury trial;
(8)
in those cases not within the court’s trial jurisdiction the right to a
preliminary examination;
(9)
that, if the defendant pleads guilty or no contest, it may have an effect on
the defendant’s immigration or naturalization status, and if the defendant is represented
by counsel, the court shall determine that the defendant has been advised by counsel of
the immigration consequences of a plea;
(10)
that, if the defendant is charged with a crime of domestic violence or a
felony, a plea of guilty or no contest will affect the defendant’s constitutional right to bear
arms, including shipping, receiving, possessing, or owning any firearm or ammunition,
all of which are crimes punishable under federal law for a person convicted of domestic
violence or a felony; and
(11)
that, if the defendant pleads guilty or no contest to a crime for which
registration as a sex offender is or may be required, and, if the defendant is represented
by counsel, the court shall determine that the defendant has been advised by counsel of
the registration requirement under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act,
Sections 29-11A-1 to -10 NMSA 1978.
The court may allow the defendant reasonable time and opportunity to make
telephone calls and consult with counsel.
B. Offense within the court’s trial jurisdiction. If the offense charged is within the
court’s trial jurisdiction, the court shall require the defendant to plead to the complaint,
under Rule 6-302 NMRA, and if the defendant refuses to answer, the court shall enter a
plea of “not guilty” for the defendant. If, after entry of a plea of “not guilty,” the defendant
remains in custody, the action shall be set for trial as soon as possible.
C. Insanity or incompetency. If the defendant raises the defense of “not guilty by
reason of insanity at the time of commission of an offense,” after setting conditions of
release, the action shall be transferred to the district court. If a question is raised about
the defendant’s competency to stand trial, the court shall proceed under Rule 6-507.1
NMRA.
D. Waiver of arraignment or first appearance. With prior approval of the court, an
arraignment or first appearance may be waived by the defendant filing a written waiver.
A waiver of arraignment and entry of a plea or waiver of first appearance shall be
substantially in the form approved by the Supreme Court.
E. Felony offenses; preliminary examination. If the offense is a felony and the
defendant waives preliminary examination, the court shall bind the defendant over to the
district court. If the defendant does not waive preliminary examination and a motion for
an expedited pretrial detention hearing has not been filed, the court shall proceed to
conduct the examination in accordance with Rule 6-202 NMRA.
F. Bail. If the defendant has not been released by the court or the court’s designee,
and if the offense charged is a bailable offense, the court shall enter an order
prescribing conditions of release in accordance with Rule 6-401 NMRA. However, the
court may delay entry of conditions of release for twenty-four (24) hours from the date of
the initial appearance, not to exceed the time limits in Rule 6-401(A) NMRA, if the
defendant is charged with a felony offense
(1)
involving the use of a firearm;
(2)
involving the use of a deadly weapon resulting in great bodily harm or
death;
(3)
which authorizes a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of
parole; or
(4)
a public safety assessment instrument approved by the Supreme Court for
use in the jurisdiction flags potential new violent criminal activity for the defendant.
The court shall immediately give notice to the prosecutor, the defendant, and
defense counsel of record, or, if defense counsel has not entered an appearance, the
local law office of the public defender or, if no local office exists, the director of the
contract counsel office of the public defender, of the circumstances in Subparagraphs
(F)(1)-(4) above that warrant delaying entry of conditions of release.
If the prosecutor does not file a motion for an expedited pretrial detention hearing by
the date scheduled for the conditions of release hearing, the court shall issue an order
setting conditions of release under Rule 6-401 NMRA.