New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 22 - COURTS
Chapter 600 - ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS OFFICE
Part 1 - GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING RULES AND PROCEDURES
Section 22.600.1.12 - FILING OF PLEADINGS

A. All pleadings may be filed with the administrative hearings office through mail, facsimile, or electronic mail as specified in the relevant notice of hearing, with a copy of such pleading contemporaneously provided to the opposing party through the same method of service of the filing. The moving party shall include an attestation, or equivalent statement or information, that they provided a copy of the pleading to the opposing party.

B. All motions, except motions made on the record during the hearing or a continuance request made in a genuine unforeseen emergency circumstance (such as an unexpected accident, force majeure, or major medical emergency occurring in such close proximity to the date of the scheduled hearing that a written motion could not be completed), shall be in writing and shall state with particularity the grounds and the relief sought.

C. Before submission of any motion, request for relief, request for continuance, the requesting party should make reasonable efforts to consult with the opposing party about that party's position on the motion unless the nature of the pleading is such that it can be reasonably assumed the opposing party would oppose the requested relief. The party shall state the position of the opposing party in the pleading.

D. Unless a different deadline applies under an applicable order of the assigned hearing officer, the opposing party has 14 days to file a written response to a pleading. If any deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or state-recognized holiday, the deadline falls on the next business day. The assigned hearing officer may require a shorter response deadline, especially for time-sensitive or basic motions like continuance requests. Failure to file a response in opposition may be presumed to be consent to the relief sought, although the hearing officer is not required to make such a default ruling on the motion if the relief would be contrary to the hearing officer's view of the facts or law on the issues.

E. Absent express permission of the assigned hearing officer with good cause shown, no pleading filed in a hearing involving the motor vehicle code or the implied consent act shall exceed 10 pages, not including the certificate of service, of double-spaced (except for block quotations), 12-point font. Absent express permission of the assigned hearing officer with good cause shown, no pleading, including motions and attached memorandums of support, filed in a hearing involving the tax administration act or property tax code shall exceed 20 pages, not including the certificate of service, of double-spaced (except for block quotations), 12-point font. Similarly, with exception of motions for summary judgment or submission of stipulated facts or a proposed order, attachments to any other pleading shall not exceed the length of the pleading absent express permission of the assigned hearing officer. Only relevant excerpts of a motion exhibit shall be attached, with the pertinent portions highlighted, underlined, or otherwise emphasized.

F. All pleadings shall be captioned in a format consistent with the caption included in the notice of hearing issued by the administrative hearings office, including using the specific case number, if any, listed in that notice. Generally, that caption shall be centered, in all capital letters, and in bold font, as shown below:

STATE OF NEW MEXICO

ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS OFFICE

(GENERAL TITLE OF APPLICABLE STATUTE CONTROLLING HEARING)

G. In the event of a procedural defect or other error with the manner, method, or content of a submitted pleading, the administrative hearings office may communicate such error to the filing party and withhold filing of the pleading until the moving party remedies the procedural defect. Examples of a procedural defect include, but are not limited to, failure to attest service to the opposing party, failure to comply with the page limitations, failure to seek the opposing party's position, failure to use the form or follow the specific filing method required by the administrative hearings office for the type of case at issue, or failure to comply with a standing order governing the practice before the administrative hearings office.

H. Pleadings will be marked as filed on the business day that the administrative hearings office receives the pleading. Any pleading submitted electronically to the administrative hearings office after 11:59 pm on a business day will not be marked as filed until the next business day.