Rule 12-502 NMRA
Rule 12-502. Certiorari from the Supreme Court to the Court of Appeals.
A. Scope of rule. This rule governs petitions for the issuance of writs of certiorari
seeking review of decisions of the Court of Appeals.
B. Time. The petition for writ of certiorari shall be filed with the Supreme Court clerk
within thirty (30) days after final action by the Court of Appeals and served immediately
on the respondent. Subject to the provisions of Rule 12-304 NMRA and Rule 23-114
NMRA, the petition shall be accompanied by the docket fee. The three (3) day period
set forth in Rule 12-308(B) NMRA does not apply to the time limits set by this
paragraph. Final action by the Court of Appeals shall be the filing of its decision with the
Court of Appeals clerk unless timely motion for rehearing is filed, in which event, final
action shall be the disposition of the last motion for rehearing that was timely filed.
C. Petition.
(1)
Cover. The cover of the petition shall show the names of the parties, with
the plaintiff, petitioner, or party initiating the proceeding in the trial court or
administrative body listed first (e.g., State of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Respondent vs. John
Doe, Defendant-Petitioner), and the name, mailing address, and telephone number of
counsel filing the petition, or, if a party is not represented by counsel, the name, mailing
address, and telephone number of the party.
(2)
Contents. The petition shall contain a concise statement of the grounds
on which the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is invoked, showing:
(a) the date of entry of the decision and any order on motion for rehearing;
(b) the questions presented for review (the Court will consider only the
questions set forth in the petition);
(c) the facts material to the questions presented;
(d) the basis for granting the writ, specifying where applicable:
(i)
any decision of the Supreme Court with which it is asserted the
decision of the Court of Appeals is in conflict, and showing of such conflict, including a
quotation from that part of the Court of Appeals decision, if any, and a quotation from
the part of the Supreme Court decision showing the alleged conflict;
(ii)
any decision of the Court of Appeals with which it is asserted the
decision from which certiorari is sought is in conflict, and showing of such conflict,
including a quotation from that part of the Court of Appeals decision, if any, and a
quotation from that part of the prior Court of Appeals decision showing the alleged
conflict;
(iii)
what significant question of law under the Constitution of New
Mexico or the United States is involved; or
(iv)
the issue of substantial public interest that should be determined by
the Supreme Court;
(e) a direct and concise argument amplifying the reasons relied on for
granting the writ, including specific references to the briefs filed in the Court of Appeals
showing where the questions were presented to the Court of Appeals;
(f) a reference to all related or prior appeals of which the party is aware,
including an appropriate citation, if any; and
(g) a prayer for relief, including whether the case should be remanded to the
Court of Appeals for consideration of issues not raised in the petition if the relief
requested is granted.
(3)
Attachments.
(a) A petitioner shall attach to the petition a copy of the decision of the Court
of Appeals and, if the Court of Appeals decided the case on the summary calendar, a
copy of any calendaring notices.
(b) A petitioner seeking review of an action of the Court of Appeals involving
review of an administrative proceeding under Rule 12-505 NMRA shall attach to the
petition a copy of the final order or judgment of the district court, any district court
findings or decision leading to its final order or judgment, and a copy of the
administrative decision under review by the district court.
(c) If a motion for rehearing was filed, the motion and the order of the Court of
Appeals on the motion shall be attached to the petition.
D. Length limitations. Except by permission of the Supreme Court, the petition
shall comply with Rule 12-305 NMRA and the following length limitations.
(1)
Body of the petition defined. The body of the petition consists of
headings, footnotes, quotations, and all other text except any cover page, table of
contents, table of authorities, signature blocks, and certificate of service.
(2)
Page limitation. Unless the petition complies with Subparagraph (D)(3) of
this rule, the body of the petition shall not exceed ten (10) pages.
(3)
Type-volume limitation. The body of the petition shall not exceed three
thousand one hundred fifty (3,150) words, if the party uses a proportionally-spaced type
style or typeface, such as Times New Roman, or three hundred forty-two (342) lines, if
the party uses a monospaced type style or typeface, such as Courier.
E. Statement of compliance. If the body of the petition exceeds the page
limitations of Subparagraph (D)(2) of this rule, then the petition must contain a
statement that it complies with the limitations of Subparagraph (D)(3) of this rule. If the
petition is prepared using a proportionally-spaced type style or typeface, such as Times
New Roman, the statement shall specify the number of words contained in the body of
the petition as defined in Subparagraph (D)(1) of this rule. If the petition is prepared
using a monospaced type style or typeface, such as Courier, the statement shall specify
the number of lines contained in the body of the petition. If the word-count or line-count
information is obtained from a word-processing program, the statement shall identify the
program and version used.
F. Cross-petitions. If more than one party files a petition for writ of certiorari, the
party to file the first petition shall be denominated petitioner, and any party filing a
subsequent petition shall be denominated a cross-petitioner, unless the Supreme Court
orders otherwise.
G. Conditional cross-petition. Any party may, within fifteen (15) days of service of
a petition for writ of certiorari, file a conditional cross-petition for writ of certiorari, to be
considered only if the Court grants the petition. Subject to the provisions of Rule 12-304
NMRA and Rule 23-114 NMRA, the conditional cross-petition shall be accompanied by
the docket fee. A conditional cross-petition shall be clearly identified as conditional on
the cover. Material attached to a petition need not be attached again to a conditional
cross-petition. A conditional cross-petition shall be governed by the other provisions of
this rule, except Paragraph B.
H. Response. A respondent may file a response to the petition within fifteen (15)
days of service of the petition or within fifteen (15) days of the granting of the petition.
The response shall comply with Paragraphs D and E of this rule.
I. Reply. A reply is not permitted without leave of the Supreme Court, which may
be granted upon a showing of good cause. A motion seeking leave to file a reply must
be filed and served within seven (7) days after service of the response and must include
the proposed reply.
J. Notice to and action by the Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court clerk shall
deliver a copy of the petition to the Court of Appeals clerk. At the Supreme Court’s
request, the Court of Appeals clerk shall deliver the record proper and any designated
transcripts and exhibits to the Supreme Court.
K. Briefs. In the event the writ of certiorari is issued, additional briefs may be filed
only as directed by the Supreme Court. Unless the Court orders otherwise, such
additional briefs shall conform to the requirements set forth in Rule 12-318 NMRA and
the following.
(1)
In cases from the Court of Appeals general calendar, the petitioner shall
file and serve a brief in chief within forty-five (45) days after service of the order granting
the petition for writ of certiorari.
(2)
In cases from the Court of Appeals summary or legal calendar, the
transcript of proceedings, if designated, or the notice of non-designation of transcript
shall be filed as provided in Rule 12-211 NMRA, and the parties’ designations of
exhibits and depositions shall be filed as provided in Rule 12-212 NMRA. The petitioner
shall file and serve a brief in chief within forty-five (45) days after notice from the
Supreme Court clerk that the record proper and all designated transcripts and exhibits
from the relevant lower court or agency have been filed in the Supreme Court.
(3)
The respondent shall file and serve an answer brief within forty-five (45)
days after service of the brief in chief. The petitioner may file and serve a reply brief
within twenty (20) days after service of the answer brief. The time limits for briefs on
cross-appeals are governed by Rule 12-318(I) NMRA.
L. Oral argument. The Supreme Court may order oral argument at its discretion. A
party may request oral argument as set forth in Rule 12-319 NMRA.
M. Expedited decision process. The Supreme Court may order an expedited
briefing and oral argument schedule in a time-sensitive case. If the Supreme Court
orders expedited review, the record forwarded by the Court of Appeals clerk to the
Supreme Court clerk shall include
(1)
all briefs filed in the Court of Appeals, if the Court of Appeals disposed of
the case on the general or legal calendar; and
(2)
all memoranda filed in response to notices of proposed disposition under
Rule 12-210(D)(2) NMRA, if the Court of Appeals disposed of the case on the summary
calendar.
N. Service. Service of any paper shall be made and proof of service accomplished
in accordance with Rule 12-307 NMRA.
O. Copies. If the petition for writ of certiorari has been filed pro se by a petitioner
adjudged indigent, only the original petition shall be filed. In all other cases, copies shall
be filed in accordance with Rule 12-306 NMRA.