Opinion ID: 1133490
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Presumption of Prejudice in Taos Is Supported by Substantial Evidence

Text: {76} As the preceding evidence demonstrates, Judge Blackmer found many indicia of prejudice in Taos County. We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ordering a change of venue from Taos County. There is substantial evidence in the record to support the court's conclusions: Widespread inflammatory publicity saturated Taos County close to the time of the trials; the television, newspaper, and radio publicity was highly emotional; the comments by the parties, relatives, and the attorneys in this case further affected public sentiment; the risk of prejudice was increased by the comparatively small population of Taos; jurors in the second trial did not disclose bias during voir dire; and there was a strong likelihood that many potential jurors would enter the third trial with strong predilections toward one party or the other. {77} We emphasize that these factors establish a strong presumption of prejudice and that there is no requirement that the venue change be based upon empirical proof of actual prejudice. Applications for change of venue under our law are predicated on a well-grounded fear that [the defendant] is unlikely to obtain a fair trial and an impartial jury, in the county where the claimed crime occurred. We do not understand the statute to mean that it must be conclusively shown that it is impossible to have a fair trial in the county where the venue is laid, but it is sufficient to show a reasonable apprehension that the defendant will not secure a fair and impartial trial or that the jury are under an influence inimical to the accused. Alaniz, 55 N.M. at 318-19, 232 P.2d at 986 (citation omitted). Moreover, as the trial court was at pains to note, most of these indicia were not, by themselves, sufficient to warrant a presumption of prejudice. See, e.g., Venue Order, slip op. at 3 (Finding of Fact 6) (An admission, by defense counsel, that publicity had permeated Taos is only one minor factor this Court should consider along with all other facts and circumstances on the Motion for Change of Venue.). We need not determine whether any of the individual factors considered by the trial court would justify a change of venue under Section 38-3-6. We conclude that these factors in aggregate constitute substantial evidence to support a reasonable probability that public excitement and local prejudice would prevent a fair and impartial third trial in Taos County.