N.M. R. Crim. P. Magist. Ct. 6-401
N.M. R. Crim. P. Magist. Ct. 6-401
Committee commentary. - This rule provides "the mechanism through which a person may effectuate the right to pretrial release afforded by Article II, Section 13 of the New Mexico Constitution." State v. Brown, 2014-NMSC-038, ¶ 37, 338 P.3d 1276. In 2016, Article II, Section 13 was amended (1) to permit a court of record to order the detention of a felony defendant pending trial if the prosecutor proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant poses a danger to the safety of any other person or the community and that no release condition or combination of conditions will reasonably ensure the safety of any other person or the community, and (2) to require the pretrial release of a defendant who is in custody solely because of financial inability to post a secured bond. This rule was derived from the federal statute governing the release or detention of a defendant pending trial. See 18 U.S.C. § 3142. This rule was amended in 2017 to implement the 2016 amendment to Article II, Section 13 and the Supreme Court's holding in Brown, 2014-NMSC-038. Corresponding rules are located in the Rules of Criminal Procedure for the District Courts, see Rule 5-401 NMRA, the Rules of Criminal Procedure for the Metropolitan Courts, see Rule 7-401 NMRA, and the Rules of Procedure for the Municipal Courts, see Rule 8-401 NMRA.
Time periods specified in this rule are computed in accordance with Rule 6-104 NMRA.
Just as assistance of counsel is required at a detention hearing under Rule 5-409 NMRA that may result in a denial of pretrial release based on dangerousness, Subparagraphs (A)(2), (H)(2), and (H)(3) of this rule provide that assistance of counsel is required in a proceeding that may result in denial of pretrial release based on reasons that do not involve dangerousness, such as a simple inability to meet a financial condition.
As set forth in Paragraph B, a defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance or unsecured bond unless the court determines that a release, in addition to any non-monetary conditions of release under Paragraph D, will not reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant and the safety of any other person or the community.
Paragraph C lists the factors the court should consider when determining conditions of release. In all cases, the court is required to consider any available results of a pretrial risk assessment instrument approved by the Supreme Court for use in the jurisdiction and the financial resources of the defendant.
Paragraph D lists various non-monetary conditions of release. The court must impose the least restrictive condition, or combination of conditions, that will reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant as required and the safety of any other person and the community. See Brown, 2014-NMSC-038, ¶¶ 1, 37, 39. If the defendant has previously been released on standard conditions before a court appearance, the judge should review the conditions at the defendant's first appearance to determine whether any particularized conditions should be imposed under the circumstances of the case.
Paragraph D also permits the court to impose non-monetary conditions of release to ensure the orderly administration of justice. This provision was derived from the American Bar Association, ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: Pretrial Release, Standard 10-5.2 (3d ed. 2007). Some conditions of release may have a cost associated with the condition. The court should make a determination about whether the defendant can afford to pay all or a part of the cost, or whether the court has the authority to waive the cost, because detaining a defendant because of inability to pay the cost associated with a condition of release is comparable to detaining a defendant because of financial inability to post a secured bond.
As set forth in Paragraph E, the only purpose for which the court may impose a secured bond is to ensure that the defendant will appear for trial and other pretrial proceedings for which the defendant must be present. See State v. Ericksons, 1987-NMSC-108, ¶ 6, 106 N.M. 567, 746 P.2d 1099 ("[T]he purpose of bail is to secure the defendant's attendance to submit to the punishment to be imposed by the court."); see also NMSA 1978, § 31-3-2(B)(2) (1993) (authorizing the forfeiture of bond on the defendant's failure to appear).
The 2017 amendments to this rule clarify that the amount of secured bond must not be based on a bond schedule, i.e., a predetermined schedule of monetary amounts fixed according to the nature of the charge. Instead, the court must consider the individual defendant's financial resources and must set secured bond at the lowest amount that will reasonably ensure the defendant's appearance in court after the defendant is released.
Secured bond cannot be used for the purpose of detaining a defendant who may pose a danger to the safety of any other person or the community. See Brown, 2014-NMSC-038, ¶ 53 ("Neither the New Mexico Constitution nor our rules of criminal procedure permit a judge to set high bail for the purpose of preventing a defendant's pretrial release."); see also Stack v. Boyle, 342 U.S. 1, 5 (1951) (stating that secured bond set higher than the amount reasonably calculated to ensure the defendant's appearance in court "is 'excessive' under the Eighth Amendment"). A felony defendant who poses a danger that cannot be mitigated through the imposition of non-monetary conditions of release under Paragraph D of this rule should be detained under Article II, Section 13 of the New Mexico Constitution and Rule 5-409 NMRA.
The court should consider the authorized types of secured bonds in the order of priority set forth in Paragraph E. The court must first consider requiring an appearance bond secured by a cash deposit of ten percent (10%). No other percentage is permitted under the rule. If a cash deposit of ten percent (10%) is inadequate, the court then must consider a property bond involving property that belongs to the defendant or other unpaid surety. If neither of these options is sufficient to reasonably ensure the defendant's appearance, the court may require a cash or surety bond for the defendant's release. If the court requires a cash or surety bond, the defendant has the option either to execute an appearance bond and deposit one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of the bond with the court or to purchase a bond from a paid surety. Under Subparagraph (E)(2)(c), the defendant alone has the choice to post the bond by a one hundred percent (100%) cash deposit or a surety. The court does not have the option to set a cash-only bond or a surety-only bond; it must give the defendant the choice of either. A paid surety may execute a surety bond or a real or personal property bond only if the conditions of Rule 6-401.2 NMRA are met.
Paragraph F governs the contents of an order setting conditions of release. See Form 9-303 NMRA (order setting conditions of release). Although pretrial release hearings are not required to be a matter of record in the magistrate court, Paragraph F requires the court to make written findings justifying the imposition of a secured bond. Judges are encouraged to enter their written findings on the order setting conditions of release at the conclusion of the hearing. If more detailed findings are necessary, the judge should make the supplemental findings in a separate document within two (2) days of the conclusion of the hearing.
Paragraph G addresses pretrial detention of a dangerous defendant under Article II, Section 13 of the New Mexico Constitution. If the defendant poses a danger to the safety of any other person or the community that cannot be addressed through the imposition of non-monetary conditions of release, the prosecutor may file a motion for pretrial detention. If the prosecutor files a motion for pretrial detention, the magistrate court must follow the procedures set forth in Rule 6-409 NMRA.
Paragraph H sets forth the procedure for review of the defendant's conditions of release in the magistrate court. Paragraph J sets forth the procedure for the defendant to petition the district court for release or for review of the conditions of release set by the magistrate court. Article II, Section 13 of the New Mexico Constitution requires the court to rule on a motion or petition for pretrial release "in an expedited manner" and to release a defendant who is being held solely because of financial inability to post a secured bond. A defendant who wishes to present financial information to a court to support a motion or a petition for pretrial release may present Form 9-301A NMRA (pretrial release financial affidavit) to the court. The defendant shall be entitled to appear and participate personally with counsel before the judge conducting any hearing to review the conditions of release, rather than by any means of remote electronic conferencing.
Paragraph K requires the magistrate court to prioritize the scheduling of trial and other proceedings for cases in which the defendant is held in custody because of inability to post bond or meet the conditions of release. See generally United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 747 (1987) (concluding that the detention provisions in the Bail Reform Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3142, did not violate due process, in part because of "the stringent time limitations of the Speedy Trial Act,"18 U.S.C. § 3161); Am. Bar Ass'n, ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: Pretrial Release, Standard 10-5.11 (3d ed. 2007) ("Every jurisdiction should establish, by statute or court rule, accelerated time limits within which detained defendants should be tried consistent with the sound administration of justice."). This rule does not preclude earlier or more regular status review hearings. The purpose of the hearing is to determine how best to expedite a trial in the case. A meaningful review of the progress of the case includes assessment of the parties' compliance with applicable deadlines, satisfaction of discovery obligations, and witness availability, among other matters. If the court determines that the parties have made insufficient progress on these measures, then it shall issue an appropriate scheduling order.
Under NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-1 (1972), the court may appoint a designee to carry out the provisions of this rule. As set forth in Paragraph M, a designee must be designated by the presiding magistrate court judge in a written court order. A person may not be appointed as a designee if that person is related within the second degree of blood or marriage to a paid surety licensed in this state to execute bail bonds. A jailer may be appointed as a designee. Paragraph M and Rule 6-408 NMRA govern the limited circumstances under which a designee shall release an arrested defendant from custody before that defendant's first appearance before a judge.
Paragraph N requires the magistrate court to transfer any bond to the district court on notice from the district attorney that an information or indictment has been filed. See Rule 6-202(E)-(F) NMRA (requiring the district attorney to notify the magistrate court of the filing of an information or indictment in the district court).
Paragraph O of this rule dovetails with Rule 11-1101(D)(3)(e) NMRA. Both provide that the Rules of Evidence do not apply to proceedings in the magistrate court with respect to matters of pretrial release. As with courts in other types of proceedings in which the Rules of Evidence do not apply, a court presiding over a pretrial release hearing is responsible "for assessing the reliability and accuracy" of the information presented. See United States v. Martir, 782 F.2d 1141, 1145 (2d Cir. 1986) (explaining that in a pretrial detention hearing the judge "retains the responsibility for assessing the reliability and accuracy of the government's information, whether presented by proffer or by direct proof"); see also United States v. Marshall, 519 F. Supp. 751, 754 (E.D. Wis. 1981) ("So long as the information which the sentencing judge considers has sufficient indicia of reliability to support its probable accuracy, the information may properly be taken into account in passing sentence."), aff'd, 719 F.2d 887 (7th Cir.1983); State v. Guthrie, 2011-NMSC-014, ¶¶ 36-39, 43, 150 N.M. 84, 257 P.3d 904 (explaining that in a probation revocation hearing, the court should focus on the reliability of the evidence).
Consistent with Rule 6-106 NMRA, a party cannot exercise the statutory right to excuse a judge who is setting initial conditions of release. See NMSA 1978, § 35-3-7 (1983). Paragraph Q of this rule does not prevent a judge from filing a recusal either on the court's own motion or motion of a party. See N.M. Const. art. VI, § 18; Rule 21-211 NMRA.
[Adopted by Supreme Court Order No. 17-8300-005, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after July 1, 2017; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 22-8300-015, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after December 31, 2022; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. S-1-RCR-2024-00068, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after May 8, 2024.]
ANNOTATIONS The 2024 amendment, approved by Supreme Court Order No. S-1-RCR-2024-00068, effective May 8, 2024, provided that if the defendant remains in custody pending his initial hearing under 6-403(D) NMRA, the magistrate court shall hold a pretrial release hearing within three days after the date of the initial hearing if the defendant is being held in the local detention center, or five days after the date of the initial hearing if the defendant is not being held in the local detention center, provided that the magistrate court may order a secured appearance bond only if the court makes written findings of particularized reasons why the release will not reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant as required, revised the list of non-monetary conditions of release that the magistrate court may impose that will reasonably ensure the appearance of defendant as required, the safety of the community and the orderly administration of justice, provided that the order setting conditions of release must be in writing and that the written order shall be provided to defendant before release if the defendant is in custody or within three days of the conditions of release hearing if the defendant is not in custody, revised the timing of when the magistrate court must hold a hearing to review conditions of release, made certain technical amendments, and revised the committee commentary; in Paragraph A, Subparagraph A(1), added Item A(1)(c); in Paragraph B, deleted "unless the court makes written findings of particularized reasons why the release will not reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant as required", and added "The court may order execution of a secured appearance bond only if the court makes written findings of particularized reasons why the release will not reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendants as required under Paragraphs E and F of this rule."; in Paragraph D, deleted Subparagraph D(11), which provided "undergo available medical, psychological, or psychiatric treatment, including treatment for drug or alcohol dependency, and remain in a specified institution if required for that purpose," and redesignated the succeeding subparagraphs accordingly; in Paragraph F, Subparagraph F(1), added "written" preceding "order", and added "be provided to the defendant before release if the defendant is in custody or within three (3) days of the conditions of release hearing if the defendant is not in custody, and"; in Paragraph H, in the paragraph heading, deleted "Motion for", in Subparagraph H(1), in the subparagraph heading, deleted "Motion for", and after "the defendant shall", deleted "on motion of the defendant or the court's own motion", in Subparagraph H(2), after "five (5) days after the", deleted "filing of the motion" and added "initial conditions of release hearing"; and in Paragraph J, Subparagraph J(1), after "magistrate court has", deleted "ruled on a motion to review" and added "reviewed", after "the conditions of release", added "and made a requisite ruling", and after "magistrate court order", deleted "disposing of the defendant's motion for review" and added "after the review of the conditions of release". The 2023 amendment, approved by Supreme Court No. S-1-RCR-2023-00021, effective December 31, 2023, defined "local detention center", and made technical amendments; and in Paragraph A, added Subparagraph 3. The 2022 amendment, approved by Supreme Court Order No. 22-8300-015, effective December 31, 2022, added the condition that the defendant refrain from any use of cannabis, cannabis products, or synthetic cannabinoids without a certification from a licensed medical practitioner to an existing list of conditions that the municipal court may impose when setting conditions of release that will reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant as required, the safety of any other person and the community, and the orderly administration of justice, provided that in cases in which the defendant has been detained for more than sixty days as a result of inability to post a secured bond or meet the conditions of release, the magistrate court shall hold a status hearing in order to review the progress of the case and required the magistrate court to issue an appropriate scheduling order if the court determines that insufficient progress has been made in the case, made certain technical, nonsubstantive changes, and revised the committee commentary; in Paragraph D, added a new Subparagraph D(10) and redesignated the succeeding subparagraphs accordingly; and in Paragraph K, added "The court shall hold a status review hearing in any case in which the defendant has been held for more than sixty (60) days. 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.". The 2017 amendment, approved by Supreme Court Order No. 17-8300-005, effective July 1, 2017, provided the mechanism through which a defendant may effectuate the right to pretrial release afforded by Article II, Section 13 of the New Mexico Constitution, rewrote the rule to such an extent that a detailed comparison is impracticable, and added the committee commentary. The 2008 amendment, approved by Supreme Court Order No. 08-8300-044, effective December 31, 2008, in Paragraph A, in the second sentence, changed the phrase "unless the court determines that such release" to the phrase "unless the court makes a written finding that such release" and in the fourth sentence, changed the phrase "If the court determines that release" to the phrase "If the court makes a written finding that release". The 2007 amendment, approved by Supreme Court Order No. 07-8300-034, effective January 22, 2008, amended Paragraph A prohibiting the denial of bail prior to conviction of a person charged with an offense within the magistrate court trial jurisdiction, except when posted by a complaining witness or alleged victim, and the court finds the defendant poses a danger to the complaining witness or alleged victim; amended Paragraph A to add the explanatory note relating to the posting of a community bond; and amended Paragraph H to delete the provision permitting the refund of a cash bond to a personal representative or assignor and providing for the return to the payor. The second 1990 amendment, effective for cases filed in the magistrate courts on or after December 1, 1990, in Paragraph J, substituted "responsible persons" for "a responsible person" and "by the presiding judge of the magistrate court" for "by the court" in the first sentence, and, in Subparagraph (2), added the language beginning "unless designated" at the end. The first 1990 amendment, effective for cases filed in the magistrate courts on or after September 1, 1990, rewrote Paragraphs A through D; inserted Paragraph E and redesignated former Paragraphs E through L as Paragraphs F through M; rewrote Paragraph F; in Paragraph G, inserted "increase or reduce the amount of bail set or" in the first sentence, substituted "If such amendment of the release order" for "If the imposition of such additional or different conditions" at the beginning of the second sentence, and substituted "Paragraph F" for "Paragraph E" near the end thereof; in Paragraph H, substituted "Subparagraph (1) or (3)" for "Subparagraph (3)"; in Paragraph I, deleted "Paragraph I of" preceding "Rule 5-401" in the third sentence, substituted "Any bail set or condition of release" for "Any condition" at the beginning of the fourth sentence, and made the same substitution near the end of the last sentence; and rewrote Paragraph J.
For form on setting conditions of release and appearance bond, see Rule 9-302 NMRA. For forms on bail bond and justification of sureties, see Rule 9-304 NMRA. For cash receipt, see 9-312A NMRA. For bench warrant, see 9-212C NMRA. For duty of personal representative to take possession of assets of an estate, see Section 45-3-709 NMSA 1978. Constitutional right to bail. - Article II, Section 13 of the New Mexico Constitution affords criminal defendants the right to bail, and although there is a presumption that all persons are bailable pending trial, the right to bail is not absolute under all circumstances; the trial court must give proper consideration to all of the factors in determining conditions of release, and shall set the least restrictive of the bail options and release conditions that will reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required and the safety of any other person and the community. State v. Brown, 2014-NMSC-038. Least restrictive bail option is required. - Where trial court determined that defendant was bailable, and made findings that defendant would not likely commit new crimes, that defendant did not pose a danger to anyone, and that defendant was likely to appear if released, and where trial court failed to give proper consideration to all of the factors in determining conditions of release set forth in analogous rule for the district courts, and trial court failed to set the least restrictive of the bail options and release conditions, it was an abuse of discretion to continue the imposition of bond. State v. Brown, 2014-NMSC-038. Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. - 8A Am. Jur. 2d Bail and Recognizance §§ 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24 to 27, 31, 32, 104, 106. Mandamus to compel judge or other officer to grant accused bail or to accept proffered sureties, 23 A.L.R.2d 803. Appealability of order relating to forfeiture of bail, 78 A.L.R.2d 1180. Burden of proof, where bail is sought before judgment but after indictment in capital case, as to whether proof is evident or the presumption great, 89 A.L.R.2d 355. 8 C.J.S. Bail § 1 et seq.