New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 10 - PUBLIC SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Chapter 4 - DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
Part 10 - APPEALS AND ADJUDICATION
Section 10.4.10.13 - HEARINGS

A. Notice of hearing shall be made by certified mail with return receipt requested at least fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the hearing, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties and the board or the state personnel office designated hearing officer.

B. The hearing shall be open to the public, unless the parties agree that it shall be closed.

C. A party may appear at the hearing through a representative, provided such representative has made a written entry of appearance prior to the hearing date.

D. The board or the state personnel office designated hearing officer may clear the room of witnesses not under examination, if either party so requests, and any person who is disruptive. The district attorney is entitled to have a person in the hearing room during the course of the hearing, even if the person will testify in the hearing.

E. The district attorney or his representative may make an opening statement. The appellant may then make an opening statement or wait until the district attorney is through presenting his/her case.

F. The district attorney shall present his/her evidence first.

G. Oral evidence shall be taken only under oath or affirmation.

H. Each party shall have the right to:

I. The hearing shall be conducted in an orderly and informal manner without adherence to the rules of evidence required in judicial proceedings. However, at least some non-hearsay evidence must support the decision reached.

J. The board or the state personnel office designated hearing officer may admit all evidence, including affidavits, if it is the type of evidence upon which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of business. The board or the state personnel office designated hearing officer shall exclude immaterial, irrelevant or unduly cumulative testimony.

K. The board or the state personnel office designated hearing officer may take administrative notice of those matters of which courts of this state may take judicial notice.

L. The rules of privilege shall be effective to the extent that they are required to be recognized in civil actions in the district courts of the state of New Mexico.

M. The board or the state personnel office designated hearing officer shall consider only those allegations against the appellant included in the notice of final action.

N. The hearing shall be recorded by a sound-recording device under the supervision of the board or the state personnel office designated hearing officer.

O. The board or the state personnel office designated hearing officer may require post-hearing briefs and proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.

P. Upon hearing the evidence and statements of the parties and after the necessary deliberation, the board shall issue a written decision within twenty (20) working days after the close of the record and send copies to the parties and their representatives. The decision, which shall be based upon the preponderance of the evidence, shall order either corrective action or dismissal of the appeal. The decision of the board or the state personnel office designated hearing officer shall be final. No further administrative appeal is authorized.