New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 22 - COURTS
Chapter 600 - ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS OFFICE
Part 2 - CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
Section 22.600.2.7 - DEFINITIONS

A. "Administrative hearings office" is the agency established under Section 7-1B-1 NMSA 1978.

B. "Chief hearing officer" is the appointed head of the administrative hearings office under the Administrative Hearings Office Act, Section 7-1B-3 NMSA 1978, or the chief hearing officer's designee during the absence of the chief hearing officer, or the acting, interim chief hearing officer pending appointment of that position.

C. "Hearing officer" is the attorney assigned by the chief hearing officer or designee of the chief hearing officer to serve as a neutral decision maker in any adjudicatory proceeding before the administrative hearings office. The person assigned as hearing officer must be licensed to practice law in New Mexico or eligible for temporary licensure to practice in New Mexico as determined by the New Mexico supreme court. The hearing officer may be a classified employee in the state personnel system with the administrative hearings office, either as an attorney or administrative law judge, may be under contract with the administrative hearings office as a contract attorney, administrative law judge, or judge, or may be an attorney, administrative law judge, or judge serving in a voluntary capacity for the administrative hearings office.

D. "Party" shall include the real parties of interest and their representatives, including bona fide employees, attorneys, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, agency staff, agency attorneys, or other representatives authorized by the Administrative Hearings Office Act to appear on behalf of a party.

E. "Third degree of relationship" include the following persons, by blood or marriage: great-grandparent, grandparent, parent, uncle, aunt, brother, sister, child, grandchild, great-grandchild, nephew, and niece.