New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 22 - COURTS
Chapter 600 - ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS OFFICE
Part 1 - GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING RULES AND PROCEDURES
Section 22.600.1.20 - HEARING OFFICER POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. Hearings shall be presided over by a hearing officer designated by the chief hearing officer of the administrative hearings office.
B. The hearing officer shall have the duty to conduct fair and impartial hearings, to take all necessary action to avoid delay in the proceedings and to maintain order. The hearing officer shall have the powers necessary to carry out these duties, including the following:
C. In the performance of these functions, the hearing officer shall not be responsible to or subject to the direction of any officer, employee or agent of the taxation and revenue department or the department of finance and administration or the other state agency involved in the proceeding.
D. In the performance of these adjudicative functions, the hearing officer is prohibited from engaging in any improper ex parte communications about the substantive issues with any party on any matter, as addressed in regulation 22.600.2.16 NMAC. An improper ex parte communication occurs when the hearing officer discusses the substance of a case without the opposing party being present, except that it is not an improper ex parte communication for the hearing officer to go on the record with only one party when the other party has failed to appear at a scheduled hearing.