Court Opinion

ID: 893346
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-05 18:53:17.049819+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:38:50.785996
License: Public Domain

1   This memorandum opinion was not selected for publication in the New Mexico Reports. Please see
 2   Rule 12-405 NMRA for restrictions on the citation of unpublished memorandum opinions. Please
 3   also note that this electronic memorandum opinion may contain computer-generated errors or other
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 6        IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

 7 STATE OF NEW MEXICO,

 8          Plaintiff-Appellee,

 9 v.                                                                                  NO. 30,154

10 TRAVIS MOON,

11          Defendant-Appellant.

12 APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF SANDOVAL COUNTY
13 Violet C. Otero, District Judge

14   Gary K. King, Attorney General
15   Santa Fe, NM
16   Jacqueline R. Medina, Assistant Attorney General
17   Albuquerque, NM

18 for Appellee

19   Assed & Associates, P.C.
20   Ahmad Assed
21   Richard J. Moran
22   Albuquerque, NM

23 for Appellant

24                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION
 1 VIGIL, Judge.

 2        Defendant appeals the district court’s dismissal of his appeal. The district court

 3 found that, pursuant to Rule 6-703(L) NMRA, it no longer had jurisdiction to hear the

 4 appeal. Accordingly, the district court entered an order dismissing the appeal and

 5 remanding the case to the magistrate court for enforcement of its judgment.

 6 Defendant appeals, and we affirm the district court.

 7 BACKGROUND

 8        Defendant was convicted in magistrate court of violating a protective order. He

 9 timely appealed the conviction to the district court on April 19, 2007. Trial was set

10 for August 16, but was later continued to September 27. Three extensions of time

11 were sought by Defendant and one extension of time was sought by the State; all four

12 requests were granted by the Supreme Court. The first extension was granted to

13 January 19, 2008, the second was granted to April 19, 2008, the third was granted to

14 July 19, 2008, and the fourth was granted to August 19, 2008. Trial commenced on

15 August 19, 2008, the last day of the fourth Supreme Court extension.

16        At trial, the victim was examined by the State. During cross-examination of the

17 witness, Defendant approached the district judge and asked for a recess so that he

18 could find an expert witness to testify about how a person would be able to create an

19 e-mail account using identifying information that has nothing to do with the person.

                                              2
 1 The State argued that it had not raised an issue with regard to e-mail messages, that

 2 Defendant came prepared to examine the witness about the e-mails, and that

 3 Defendant therefore had an adequate opportunity to prepare for issues related to the

 4 e-mails. After a lengthy discussion, during which the district judge pointed out that

 5 the e-mails had not been admitted or viewed by the court, the district judge informed

 6 Defendant that if he wanted to hire someone “to figure out how any information [the

 7 witness] may have received should be considered by the Court or not considered,

 8 [Defendant could] certainly do that much.” The judge commented that Defendant

 9 would just be “hiring an expert to tell [the judge] something that hasn’t been testified

10 to.” The judge also noted that it was interesting that Defendant already had “in mind

11 an expert witness” to testify about the e-mails. The district court granted Defendant’s

12 request in order to allow Defendant to secure an expert, and directed Defendant to file,

13 before trial resumed, an amended witness list that would include his expert witness.

14        Close to one year after the trial had commenced, Defendant filed a request to

15 continue with the trial. Trial was scheduled for October 20, 2009. The State filed a

16 motion to exclude testimony from any expert that Defendant may have retained,

17 arguing that Defendant had failed to disclose his expert witness to the State. On the

18 day of trial, Defendant informed the court that he would not be presenting an expert.

19 The parties then continued with their presentations. After the parties each rested, and

                                              3
 1 prior to closing argument, the district court initiated a discussion regarding Rule 6-703

 2 and its possible effect on the case. The judge believed that, because trial had

 3 commenced on the last day of the Supreme Court extension, August 19, 2008, but no

 4 decision had been made on that day, the case fit within the language of the rule

 5 pertaining to “[a]ny appeal pending without disposition.” The district court orally

 6 ruled that it was without jurisdiction to hear the appeal and that the case should be

 7 dismissed. The court stated, “I’m going to let you [State] weigh in . . . and I’m also,

 8 in all fairness, let [Defendant] weigh in on the Court’s ruling.” After a discussion

 9 about the meaning of “disposition” and whether recess in a case amounts to a stay of

10 proceedings, the district court reaffirmed its oral ruling. Prior to any written order on

11 the district court’s ruling, Defendant filed an objection and an accompanying brief

12 regarding the oral ruling, asking the court to grant a mistrial, reconsider its ruling, or

13 grant a new trial. A hearing was held on December 15, 2009, to address Defendant’s

14 claims. The court heard argument from both parties and announced its decision to

15 dismiss the appeal. The order of dismissal and remand to the magistrate court was

16 filed on December 15, and Defendant timely appealed to this Court.

17 DISCUSSION

18 Extensions by Supreme Court

                                               4
 1        Based on the information available to this Court at the time the case was

 2 assigned to the general calendar, we asked the parties to address whether the Supreme

 3 Court extensions granted in this case were “proper in light of the language” in Rule

 4 6-703(M) that allows for an extension “one time for a period not exceeding ninety

 5 (90) days,” and further provides that “[n]o other extension of time shall be allowed.”

 6 Id.   As the State correctly points out, the grant of extensions is within the

 7 superintending control and power of the Supreme Court. See N.M. Const. art. VI, §

 8 3; see also State v. Remaly, 120 N.M. 492, 494, 903 P.2d 234, 236 (1995) (noting that,

 9 because orders of the Supreme Court are final, the Court of Appeals has recognized

10 that it has no authority to review orders for extensions of time); cf. State v. Sanchez,

11 2000-NMCA-061, ¶ 5, 129 N.M. 301, 6 P.3d 503 (holding that this Court cannot

12 review the Supreme Court’s decision to grant an extension beyond time allowed under

13 the six-month rule).

14        In addition, the extensions granted in this case, up to and including the date that

15 trial began, were not considered by the district court when it decided to dismiss the

16 case. The extensions of time only extended the time for the start or commencement

17 of trial.   The district court and the State have not questioned whether the

18 commencement of trial, on August 19, 2008, was timely pursuant to the Supreme

19 Court extensions granted through that date. Therefore, despite our direction to the

                                               5
1 parties to brief this issue, we will not address the propriety of the extensions in this

2 case.

                                             6
 1 DISTRICT COURT’S APPLICATION OF RULE 6-703(L)

 2 Applicable Version of the Rule

 3        The State, in its answer brief, contends that Defendant relies on the 2009

 4 version of Rule 6-703 when the 2004 version of the rule is applicable to this case.

 5 Defendant did not file a reply brief. See Rule 12-213(C) NMRA (2005) (“The

 6 appellant may file a brief in reply to the answer brief. Such brief . . . shall be directed

 7 only to new arguments or authorities presented in the answer brief.”). The failure to

 8 respond to new arguments made in an answer brief constitutes a concession by the

 9 appellant. State v. Templeton, 2007-NMCA-108, ¶ 22, 142 N.M. 369, 165 P.3d 1145.

10        Moreover, we agree with the State’s contention that the changes in the rule

11 relied on by Defendant effective on January 22, 2008, and January 15, 2009, are not

12 applicable to this case. The complaint was filed on December 7, 2005, and the appeal

13 to the district court was filed on April 19, 2007; both events occurred before the

14 effective dates of the changes to the rule. Our Supreme Court has the authority to

15 make any change in a rule applicable to pending cases.                    State v. Pieri,

16 2009-NMSC-019, ¶¶ 19-20, 146 N.M. 155, 207 P.3d 1132. However, there is no

17 indication that the Supreme Court has chosen to apply amendments to Rule 6-703 to

18 pending cases. We hold that the version of the rule effective February 16, 2004, is

19 applicable to this case.

                                                7
 1 Interpretation of Rule 6-703

 2        The interpretation of a rule is reviewed de novo. See State v. Stephen F.,

 3 2006-NMSC-030, ¶ 7, 140 N.M. 24, 139 P.3d 184; State v. Maestas, 2007-NMCA-

 4 155, ¶ 9, 143 N.M. 104, 173 P.3d 26 (holding that application of Supreme Court Rule

 5 7-506 NMRA is reviewed de novo). The text of a rule is the primary and essential

 6 source of its meaning. NMSA 1978, § 12-2A-19 (1997); State v. Mendoza, 108 N.M.

 7 446, 448, 774 P.2d 440, 442 (1989). The purpose of six-month rules is to ensure

 8 prompt disposition of criminal cases. State v. Hoffman, 114 N.M. 445, 446-47, 839

 9 P.2d 1333, 1334-35 (Ct. App. 1992). Six-month rules should not be technically

10 applied “to effectuate dismissals,” and must be read with common sense. Id.

11        The 2004 version of Rule 6-703(L) states:

12               Disposition; time limitations. The district court shall try a trial
13        de novo appeal within six (6) months after the filing of the notice of
14        appeal. Any appeal pending in the district court six (6) months after the
15        filing of the notice of appeal without disposition shall be dismissed and
16        the cause remanded to the magistrate court for enforcement of its
17        judgment.

18 Defendant claims that Rule 6-703(L) is focused on the time for “commencing” the

19 appeal. As support for his argument, Defendant refers to the fact that the title of Rule

20 5-604(B) NMRA is “Time limits for the commencement of trial.” Defendant also

21 relies on the fact that Rule 6-703 was amended to include references to Rule 5-604,

22 and the second sentence of the rule has been amended from “shall” to “may.” As

                                              8
 1 noted above, the applicable version of the rule pertaining to de novo appeals is the

 2 2004 version, and therefore, we are not concerned with later amendments to that rule

 3 or with the title of a district court rule concerning time limits for trial. Furthermore,

 4 as stated by the district court, Subsection C of Rule 5-604 specifically states that it

 5 does not apply to cases on appeal from magistrate court.

 6        Where a rule is unambiguous, we interpret the language of the rule literally, and

 7 we apply the plain meaning of the language, as it appears on the face of the rule,

 8 unless doing so would lead to an absurd or unjust result. State v. Pendley, 92 N.M.

 9 658, 662-63, 593 P.2d 755, 759-60 (Ct. App. 1979), superceded in statute/rule on

10 other grounds as stated in State v. Gonzales, 95 N.M. 636, 624 P.2d 1033 (Ct. App.

11 1981). We will not add language to the rule unless it is necessary to avoid an absurd

12 result or to fit with the obvious intent of the Supreme Court. Id.

13        Rule 6-703(L) includes two sentences. The first sentence refers to trying a de

14 novo appeal within six months after the notice of appeal is filed. To “try” a case

15 means “[t]o examine judicially; to examine and resolve (a dispute) by means of a

16 trial.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1657 (9th ed. 2009). The second sentence provides

17 that an appeal that is pending after the six-month time period “without disposition”

18 must be dismissed. “Disposition” is defined as “[a] final settlement or determination.”

19 Black’s Law Dictionary, supra, at 539; cf. Atencio v. Love, 96 N.M. 510, 511, 632

                                               9
 1 P.2d 745, 746 (1981) (reviewing the rule mandating dismissal when a charge is

 2 pending for six months from the date of arraignment without disposition in a case

 3 where a defendant was tried, convicted, but not sentenced; the Court held that

 4 sentencing is not included in the disposition).

 5        Defendant claims that the meaning of the language in the first sentence of Rule

 6 6-703(L), “[t]he district court shall try a trial de novo appeal” within six months refers

 7 to the “commencement” of trial. Even if we were to accept Defendant’s position, we

 8 need only look to the title of the rule to discern the meaning of the language of the

 9 rule. Cf. State v. Ellenberger, 96 N.M. 287, 288, 629 P.2d 1216, 1217 (1981) (holding

10 that reference to the title of a statute to discern its meaning is justified when the

11 language in the body of the statute does not clearly express its meaning). Based on the

12 plain language in both sentences, the body of the rule refers to a final resolution or

13 determination in a case. The title of the rule refers only to “[d]isposition; time

14 limitations,” and makes no reference to the start, beginning, or commencement of trial.

15 Therefore, even if the first sentence should be interpreted to refer to the

16 commencement of trial, the language in the second sentence of the rule, as well as its

17 title, clearly refer to the disposition or final resolution of a de novo appeal. Cf. State

18 v. Wilson, 1998-NMCA-084, ¶ 6, 125 N.M. 390, 962 P.2d 636 (explaining the effect

                                               10
 1 of a similar version of the rule to require that an appeal be tried and disposed of within

 2 the time period of the rule or dismissal of the appeal would result).

 3        In this case, there was no final resolution or determination in the case on the

 4 final day of the Supreme Court extension of time. As of August 20, 2008, the appeal

 5 was pending without disposition and there was no further extension of the six-month

 6 time limitation. Based on the plain meaning of the language of the rule, Defendant’s

 7 appeal was subject to dismissal.

 8        Moreover, if the 2009 amendment to Rule 6-703(L) was applicable to this case

 9 and if this case would be considered a pending case at the time the district court

10 entered its order, the district court did not err in dismissing the appeal. The amended

11 rule continued to provide that the “time for trial” for a de novo appeal “shall be within

12 six (6) months after the filing of the notice of appeal.” Id. The second sentence

13 included in the 2009 amendment states that, “[a]ny appeal pending without disposition

14 upon expiration of the time for trial may be dismissed” and remanded to the magistrate

15 court, “or the court may consider other sanctions as appropriate.” Id. The significant

16 change made by the 2009 amendment was to permit the district court the discretion

17 to dismiss the case or consider other sanctions if the time limits are not met. After

18 hearing argument from the parties at the December 15, 2009 hearing, the district court

19 pointed out that Defendant asked for a continuance but failed in his obligation to seek

                                               11
 1 an extension to “prosecute the appeal.” The court found that it “exercised proper

 2 discretion in dismissing [the] appeal.” Based on the circumstances in this case,

 3 including the fact that Defendant obtained an extension through August 19, 2008, to

 4 bring his appeal; Defendant requested time to find an expert that he never retained;

 5 Defendant failed to ask for further extensions to bring his appeal; and Defendant

 6 waited for almost a year before requesting to resume the trial, we hold that, under the

 7 2009 version of the rule, it was not an abuse of discretion for the district court to

 8 decide that dismissal was appropriate in this case.

 9 Compliance With Rule 6-705 NMRA

10        Defendant argues that the district court did not have the authority to raise the

11 issue of dismissal. Defendant relies on Rule 6-705 to argue that an appellee may

12 move to dismiss an appeal, but dismissal by a district court, on its own motion, cannot

13 occur unless the district court first allows the appellant to provide reasons why the

14 case should not be dismissed. Rule 6-705 states:

15                A.     By the court. When an appellant fails to comply with these
16        rules, the district court shall notify the appellant that upon the expiration
17        of ten (10) days from the date of the notice the appeal will be dismissed
18        unless prior to that date appellant shows cause why the appeal should not
19        be dismissed.

20                B.   Failure to appear; trial de novo appeals. If the defendant
21        fails to appear at the trial de novo, the district court shall set a hearing
22        within thirty (30) days for the defendant to show good cause why the

                                               12
 1        defendant’s appeal should not be dismissed. The clerk of the district
 2        court shall mail notice of the hearing to the defendant and to the
 3        defendant’s counsel at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing. If the
 4        defendant fails to show good cause for the failure to appear for trial, the
 5        district court may dismiss the appeal and remand the case to the
 6        magistrate court for enforcement of the judgment and sentence. If the
 7        district court finds good cause for the defendant’s failure to appear, the
 8        district court shall reschedule the trial:

 9                      (1) prior to the expiration of the six-month time period
10        for trial provided by Rule 6-703; or

11                    (2) within the time fixed by the Supreme Court if the
12        defendant obtains an extension of time for trial pursuant to Rule 6-703.

13              C.     By motion of the appellee. If the appellant fails to comply
14        with these rules, the appellee may file a motion in the district court to
15        dismiss the appeal. The motion shall identify the rule violated. The
16        appellant shall have ten (10) days from the date of service to respond to
17        the motion.

18 Id. As described by Defendant, the rule allows for the filing of a motion to dismiss

19 the appeal by the State, or the court’s dismissal for a defendant’s failure to appear or

20 dismissal for failure to comply with the rules, but only after the defendant is provided

21 an opportunity to show good cause why the appeal should not be dismissed.

22        On October 20, 2009, the district court raised a concern regarding Rule 6-703.

23 After hearing argument from the parties, the court orally announced that it would

24 proceed to dismiss the appeal. No written order was filed and, generally, an oral

25 ruling by a district court is not final or binding.            See State v. Vaughn,

26 2005-NMCA-076, ¶ 15, 137 N.M. 674, 114 P.3d 354. Following the court’s oral

                                              13
 1 ruling, Defendant indicated that he would oppose the dismissal of his appeal and filed

 2 a brief on the matter on November 3, 2009. A hearing was held on December 15,

 3 2009, at which the parties presented their arguments to the district court. The district

 4 court still believed that dismissal was appropriate, and entered a written order of

 5 dismissal on that date. The district court did not follow the specific procedure set out

 6 in Rule 6-705(A), but contrary to Defendant’s argument, Defendant was provided with

 7 an opportunity to “explain to the court why the trial should have proceeded.”

 8        Defendant claims that the failure to “comply” with Rule 6-705(A) did not

 9 amount to harmless error, and the court’s actions effectively denied him his right to

10 appeal. Defendant suggests that the district court should have inquired into whether

11 his right to appeal outweighed the application of Rule 6-703 due to fault attributable

12 to the State and the court, and lack of prejudice to the State. Defendant also suggests

13 that the district court should have investigated whether Defendant was seeking to

14 profit from the delay in trying his appeal. Finally, Defendant again claims that the

15 actions of the district court were not harmless because Defendant was not provided

16 an opportunity to “argue against dismissing his de novo appeal prior to the lower court

17 outright dismissing.”

18        In support of his claims, Defendant relies on State v. Hrabak, 100 N.M. 303,

19 669 P.2d 1098 (Ct. App. 1983), and Village of Ruidoso v. Rush, 97 N.M. 733, 643

                                              14
 1 P.2d 297 (Ct. App. 1982). In Hrabak, the district court admitted that the delay in

 2 setting the appeal was the fault of the court, and not of the defendants. See Hrabak,

 3 100 N.M. at 305, 669 P.2d at 1100. In Rush, the prosecutor agreed that it would not

 4 assert the six-month rule, the defendant was not timely in presenting his appeal based

 5 on the prosecutor’s assurances, and this Court determined that dismissal, under those

 6 circumstances, was unfair. See Rush, 97 N.M. at 733, 643 P.2d at 297.

 7        Here, Defendant sought multiple extensions of time, but on the last day of the

 8 last extension, Defendant argued strenuously that he needed to obtain an expert

 9 witness before proceeding with his appeal. Defendant did not seek a further extension

10 of time for his appeal, and he waited close to one year before asking the district court

11 to resume proceedings in his appeal. See Town of Bernalillo v. Garcia, 118 N.M. 610,

12 613, 884 P.2d 501, 504 (Ct. App. 1994) (noting that the rule pertaining to de novo

13 appeals from the municipal court imposes on a defendant the consequences of

14 excessive delay). The situation in this case is not, in any way, similar to the situations

15 in Hrabak or Rush. In addition, as discussed earlier, Defendant had an opportunity

16 to present the district court with his argument in opposition to dismissal. We hold that

17 the district court did not err in raising a concern regarding Rule 6-703.

                                               15
 1 Mandatory Precondition

 2        Defendant points out that the district court believed it was without jurisdiction

 3 to hear the appeal because the time limits under Rule 6-703 had not been met.

 4 Defendant claims that this was error because the requirements under Rule 6-703 are

 5 not jurisdictional. As discussed in Varela v. State, 115 N.M. 586, 855 P.2d 1050

 6 (1993), the six-month time limit for appeals to the district court is a mandatory

 7 precondition to the court’s exercise of jurisdiction. Id. at 588, 855 P.2d at 1052.

 8 Defendant is correct in stating that in situations involving a mandatory precondition

 9 that has not been met, a district court may still invoke its discretion to hear the case.

10 When unusual circumstances exist, such as error on the part of the court or

11 circumstances beyond the control of the parties, the district court may exercise its

12 discretion to hear an appeal despite the fact that a mandatory precondition was not

13 met. See Trujillo v. Serrano, 117 N.M. 273, 278, 871 P.2d 369, 374 (1994). No such

14 unusual circumstances existed in this case. The appeal in this case was not disposed

15 of within the time limits of Rule 6-703 because Defendant asked for a “recess” to

16 secure an expert witness, but did not seek an extension of time to continue his appeal.

17 In addition, although Defendant was charged with the responsibility of complying

18 with Rule 6-703, he waited several months after the time limits under the rule had

19 expired before asking for recommencement of the proceedings. Cf. Garcia, 118 N.M.

                                              16
 1 at 613, 884 P.2d at 504. Defendant has not demonstrated that unusual circumstances

 2 existed in this case that would have warranted overlooking the failure to meet the

 3 mandatory precondition under Rule 6-703. We hold that the district court did not

 4 abuse its discretion in that regard.

 5 CONCLUSION

 6        As discussed in this Opinion, the language of the 2004 version of Rule 6-703

 7 imposes a mandatory precondition to the district court’s exercise of jurisdiction by

 8 requiring disposition of any pending de novo appeal prior to the expiration of the time

 9 limits under the rule.     In this case, Defendant’s appeal was pending without

10 disposition beyond the time limits of the rule. When unusual circumstances exist, a

11 district court is allowed to exercise its discretion to hear an appeal where a mandatory

12 precondition has not been satisfied. However, no such unusual circumstances exist

13 in this case. Based on the application of the 2004 version of Rule 6-703 and the

14 circumstances in this case, we affirm the district court’s decision to dismiss

15 Defendant’s appeal and to remand the case to the magistrate court for enforcement of

16 its judgment.

17        IT IS SO ORDERED.

18                                          __________________________________
19                                          MICHAEL E. VIGIL, Judge

                                              17
1 WE CONCUR:

2 _________________________________
3 MICHAEL D. BUSTAMANTE, Judge

4 _________________________________
5 JONATHAN B. SUTIN, Judge

                                  18