Court Opinion

ID: 9535073
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:45:18.104582+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:33:09.908728
License: Public Domain

WALTERS, Justice (specially concurring). Section 31-20A-4(D), NMSA 1978, provides that if there is error in sentencing, the reviewing court shall remand solely for a new sentencing proceeding, and that the resentencing trial may be presented to a new jury panel. In my view, the statute creates an incongruous situation, in view of the mandatory language of Section 31-20A-1(B) and our decisions in Simonson and Hutchinson. However, because both parties agreed to the irregular procedure followed below, I concur in the result reached in this case.