Court Opinion

ID: 9632680
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 11:21:45.8748+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:08:21.148463
License: Public Domain

MINZNER, Judge (specially concurring). I concur in the result and in most of the analysis by which the majority reaches its result. However, I believe that the procedural context in which this case arises might usefully be discussed at greater length, and I also believe that defendant is entitled to view the result we reach as a construction of the rule, rather than a plain meaning reading. I write separately because much of what I write could be considered “not to be a proper part of the opinion.” In re Cherryhomes, 103 N.M. 771, 775, 714 P.2d 188, 192 (Ct.App.1985) (Hendley, J., specially concurring). First I will discuss a procedural aspect of this case that puzzles me. This case involves “de novo” review in district court, as well as “appellate” proceedings in district court. The only motion and ruling in metropolitan court that was on appeal in district court was the motion and ruling on “pre-indictment delay.” After the mandate issued from this court reversing the district court’s ruling on that issue, the district court ruled on defendant’s oral motions to dismiss for violations of her rights to a speedy trial, due process, and six-month rule. I agree with the majority that the district court erred in authorizing a new six-month period in which to try defendant. I would point out, however, that the district court correctly denied defendant’s motion to dismiss for violation of the six-month rule and remanded for trial. I think these motions might have been denied by the district court for another reason; they seem to me to be an aspect of the metropolitan court’s initial review, because the matter was before the district court only on appeal from a motion and ruling on preindictment delay. Perhaps the most appropriate resolution of this matter would be to vacate the district court’s order and remand with instructions to the metropolitan court to proceed to determine whether these motions should be affirmed or denied. Nevertheless, the parties have taken a different tack on appeal, and I agree that the approach taken by the majority resolves the issues raised. I write separately to provide another reason for remanding this case to the metropolitan court. I believe we must remand to that court at least in part because the motions made in district court were beyond the scope of our mandate. In addition, I would note that the state has argued that under the relevant six-month rule we should exclude all of the time in which the case is not pending before the metropolitan court and that when, as in this case, the metropolitan court reacquires jurisdiction on remand, “a new six-month rule applies.” The relevant rules clearly contemplate excluding the time the case is pending on appeal in district court. The metropolitan court rules specifically provide an additional six-month period in which the case is to be tried in district court and authorizes one ninety-day extension. See SCRA 1986, 7-703(J) & (K) (Repl.1990). The relevant rule is less clear concerning the time spent on appeal from the district court to this court. I agree that time should be excluded, because it is time for which defendant is “responsible” within the meaning of SCRA 1986, 7-506(B) (Repl.1990). I am troubled by what I perceive as an inconsistency in the majority’s approach, in which a “common sense reading” of the rule is used to support rejecting defendant’s argument that only one day remained in which to try her, and a “plain meaning” analysis is used to reject the state’s argument (in support of the district court’s conclusion) that a new six-month period applies to the case after remand. I believe that the rules do not clearly provide for the fact pattern that has arisen in this case. However, I agree we should read the rule in a common sense manner to provide a workable solution, and I believe the majority approach actually does just that.