Opinion ID: 891648
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Defendant's Constitutional Claims are Without Merit

Text: {24} In addition to arguing that the district court was without statutory authority to limit his good time credit eligibility, Defendant argues that the order limiting his eligibility violated separation of powers and his constitutional rights of due process and equal protection. We review these constitutional claims de novo. See State v. Brown, 2006-NMSC-023, ¶ 8, 139 N.M. 466, 134 P.3d 753. {25} Because we hold that the district court acted within its statutorily authorized sentencing discretion in granting Defendant four days good time credit eligibility per month, the district court did not infringe on the executive branch's role in administering the EMDA or the Legislature's role in defining criminal penalties. See Martinez, 1998-NMSC-023, ¶ 14, 126 N.M. 39, 966 P.2d 747 (holding that the granting of presentence confinement credit does not violate separation of powers); State v. White, 71 N.M. 342, 345, 378 P.2d 379, 381 (1963) (The judicial power and the executive power over sentences are readily distinguishable. To render judgment is a judicial function. To carry the judgment into effect is an executive function. (quoting United States v. Benz, 282 U.S. 304, 311, 51 S.Ct. 113, 75 L.Ed. 354 (1931))). {26} Defendant argues that his equal protection rights under the United States and New Mexico constitutions were violated because other serious youthful offenders who are currently serving less than a life sentence are eligible to earn thirty days good time credit per month. As Defendant recognizes, his equal protection claim is analyzed under a rational basis review. See Martinez v. State, 108 N.M. 382, 383, 772 P.2d 1305, 1306 (1989) (holding that the Legislature had a rational basis for precluding good time credit eligibility for individuals serving a life sentence); State v. Aqui, 104 N.M. 345, 349, 721 P.2d 771, 775 (1986) holding limited by Brooks v. Shanks, 118 N.M. 716, 885 P.2d 637 (1994) (finding a rational justification in not awarding presentence confinement credit because individuals held prior to conviction are presumed innocent). The discretion sentencing courts exercise in fashioning sentences for serious youthful offenders, including the discretion to award good time credit eligibility, is rationally related to the goals of punishment as well as rehabilitation. Defendant's equal protection rights were not violated. {27} Nor were Defendant's due process rights under the State or Federal constitutions violated by the limitation placed on his good time credit eligibility. Defendant argues that the district court, by amending the Judgment and Sentence, revoked his good time credit eligibility without due process of law. The DOC initially calculated Defendant's good time eligibility at the rate of thirty days per month, but subsequently requested the State seek clarification of Defendant's good time credit eligibility. Defendant does not have a constitutionally protected liberty interest in unearned good time credits. See Brown v. Ulibarri, 298 Fed. Appx. 746, 750 (10th Cir.2008) (finding that the EMDA does not provide an inmate with a constitutionally protected liberty interest in unearned good time credits). Although Defendant relies on our holding in Brooks, 118 N.M. at 720-21, 885 P.2d at 641-42, for the proposition that an inmate's good time credits may not be forfeited nor his eligibility terminated without compliance with statutory due process procedures, that case does not assist Defendant here. Defendant does not allege that the initial good time credits he earned were revoked, or that the DOC arbitrarily terminated his good time credit eligibility. Rather, Defendant's eligibility was limited by the district court properly exercising its sentencing discretion after multiple hearings in which Defendant was present and heard. The limitation on Defendant's good time credit eligibility does not violate his due process rights.