{ "id": 4241061, "name": "STATE OF NEW MEXICO, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. THADDEUS CARROLL, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Carroll", "decision_date": "2015-01-26", "docket_number": "No. 35,063; Docket No. 32,909", "first_page": "501", "last_page": "507", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "2015-NMCA-033" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.M. Ct. App.", "id": 9025, "name": "Court of Appeals of New Mexico" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 52, "name_long": "New Mexico", "name": "N.M." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "111 N.M. 336", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 715254 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/111/0336-01" ] }, { "cite": "1991-NMSC-002", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 12" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "89 N.M. 307", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2863938 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/89/0307-01" ] }, { "cite": "1976-NMSC-031", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 20" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "104 N.M. 176", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1594945 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/104/0176-01" ] }, { "cite": "1986-NMSC-030", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 10" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "102 N.M. 516", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1580066 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/102/0516-01" ] }, { "cite": "1985-NMSC-030", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 13" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "2004-NMCA-069", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMCA", "case_ids": [ 1224644 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 12" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/136/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "2010-NMSC-004", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 4245031 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 15" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/147/0512-01" ] }, { "cite": "2010-NMSC-009", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 4244953 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 37" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/147/0583-01" ] }, { "cite": "2010-NMSC-030", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 4247427 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 9" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/148/0426-01" ] }, { "cite": "270 P.3d 104", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.3d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "2012-NMCA-008", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMCA", "case_ids": [ 4188602 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 6" }, { "page": "\u00b6 6" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm-app/1/0156-01" ] }, { "cite": "51 N.M. 311", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1578356 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/51/0311-01" ] }, { "cite": "1947-NMSC-043", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 11" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "2007-NMSC-005", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 3670038 ], "weight": 4, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 6" }, { "page": "\u00b6 6" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/141/0178-01" ] }, { "cite": "2007-NMSC-042", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 3692358 ], "weight": 4, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 10" }, { "page": "\u00b6 9" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/142/0243-01" ] }, { "cite": "112 N.M. 226", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 720225 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/112/0226-01" ] }, { "cite": "1991-NMSC-061", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 12" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "36 N.M. L. Rev. 215", "category": "journals:journal", "reporter": "N.M. L. Rev.", "year": 2006, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "226", "parenthetical": "internal quotation marks and citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "117 N.M. 745", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1552607 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/117/0745-01" ] }, { "cite": "1994-NMSC-061", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "145 P. 125", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "year": 1965, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "19 N.M. 456", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 4706202 ], "year": 1965, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/19/0456-01" ] }, { "cite": "1914-NMSC-079", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "weight": 2, "year": 1965, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 8" }, { "page": "\u00b6 4" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "2010-NMSC-045", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 4250007 ], "weight": 4, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 14" }, { "page": "\u00b6 12" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/149/0022-01" ] }, { "cite": "2005-NMSC-035", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 2550981 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/138/0441-01" ] }, { "cite": "2004-NMCA-110", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMCA", "case_ids": [ 1224621 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 9" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/136/0295-01" ] }, { "cite": "2008-NMSC-043", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 4002479 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 9" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/144/0458-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 857, "char_count": 18759, "ocr_confidence": 0.777, "pagerank": { "raw": 5.087113660101238e-08, "percentile": 0.3202972451289631 }, "sha256": "7039d30d2650d6e364a80829f70c438e771791f4c63c22fb01a3352ec5227c00", "simhash": "1:dd2bb58b507aa61b", "word_count": 3022 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:10:55.229683+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "MICHAEL E. VIGIL, Judge", "M. MONICA ZAMORA, Judge", "J. MILES HANISEE, Judge" ], "parties": [ "STATE OF NEW MEXICO, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. THADDEUS CARROLL, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "OPINION\nVIGIL, Judge.\nDefendant Thaddeus Carroll was convicted of driving while under the influence (DWI) in violation of NMSA 1978, Section 66-8-102(D) (2007, amended 2010), following a bench trial in metropolitan court. Defendant appealed to the district court for on-record review, and the district court affirmed. Defendant then appealed to this Court. The State has filed motions urging us to dismiss Defendant\u2019s appeal and all similar appeals currently before this Court. The State contends that there is no express right to appeal or grant of jurisdiction to this Court from a district court\u2019s on-record appellate review of a metropolitan court conviction for DWI. Having conducted a de novo review of the relevant constitutional provisions and statutes governing thiaCourt\u2019s jurisdiction and the right to appeal from cases originating in metropolitan court, we deny the State\u2019s motion to dismiss. See State v. Montoya, 2008-NMSC-043, \u00b6 9, 144 N.M. 458, 188 P.3d 1209 (\u201cJurisdiction questions are questions of law which are subject to de novo review.\u201d); State v. Heinsen, 2004-NMCA-110, \u00b6 9, 136 N.M. 295, 97 P.3d 627 (\u201cWe review the application and interpretation of constitutional provisions, statutes, and court rules de novo to determine the right to an appeal and the scope of the appeal allowed by law.\u201d), aff'd, 2005-NMSC-035, 138 N.M. 441, 121 P.3d 1040.\nDISCUSSION\nThe State\u2019s challenge to this Court\u2019s authority necessitates that we consider both our jurisdiction and Defendant\u2019s right to appeal. \u201cJurisdiction\u201d refers to subject matter jurisdiction and \u201cimplicates a court\u2019s power to decide the issue before it.\u201d State v. Rudy B., 2010-NMSC-045, \u00b6 14, 149 N.M. 22, 243 P.3d 726 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). However, as our Supreme Court acknowledged early in our State\u2019s jurisprudence, a grant of jurisdiction does not \u201cconfer upon litigants an affirmative right to invoke such jurisdiction.\u201d State v. Chacon, 1914-NMSC-079, \u00b6 8, 19 N.M. 456, 145 P. 125, superseded by constitutional amendment, N.M. Const, art. VI, \u00a7 2 (1965), as recognized by State v. Griffin, 1994-NMSC-061, \u00b6 3 n.2, 117 N.M. 745, 877 P.2d 551. Rather, based on our Supreme Court\u2019s discussion in Chacon, \u201c[a] court\u2019s jurisdiction to hear an appeal [is] to be distinguished . . . from a litigant\u2019s right to invoke that jurisdiction by bringing the appeal. The court\u2019s jurisdiction thus . . . remain[s] in abeyance until given vitality by legislative authority.\u201d See Seth D. Montgomery & Andrew S. Montgomery, Jurisdiction as May Be Provided by Law: Some Issues of Appellate Jurisdiction in New Mexico, 36 N.M. L. Rev. 215, 226 (2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); cf. Rudy B., 2010-NMSC-045, \u00b6 12 (treating the right to appeal and jurisdiction as separate concepts); Govich v. N. Am. Sys., Inc., 1991-NMSC-061, \u00b6 12, 112 N.M. 226, 814 P.2d 94 (same). Generally, in order for an appeal to be properly before us, this Court must have jurisdiction to hear it, and a defendant must have the right to have it heard.\nBoth this Court\u2019s jurisdiction and a litigant\u2019s right to appeal must derive from a statute or constitutional provision. See City of Las Cruces v. Sanchez, 2007-NMSC-042, \u00b6 10, 142 N.M. 243, 164 P.3d 942 (\u201c[I]t has long been settled that the creating of a right of appeal is a matter of substantive law and outside the province of the court\u2019s rule making power.\u201d (alteration, internal quotation marks, and citations omitted)); State v. Smallwood, 2007-NMSC-005, \u00b6 6, 141 N.M. 178, 152 P.3d 821 (\u201c[0]ur Constitution or Legislature must vest us with appellate jurisdiction[.]\u201d). Our Supreme Court has recognized that it cannot create jurisdiction through its rule-making authority. Id. \u00b6 6. Similarly, our Supreme Court has \u201cconceded that if the [Legislature ha[s] authorized no appeal, [it is] powerless to create the right of appeal by rule.\u201d State v. Arnold, 1947-NMSC-043, \u00b6 11, 51 N.M. 311, 183 P.2d 845. This Court is therefore limited to relying on state constitutional and statutory provisions to support our conclusion that Defendant has the right to appeal, and this Court has the authority to consider it.\nThis Court is similarly limited in our interpretation of our state constitution and statutes by the plain meaning rule. See In re Rescue Ecoversity Petition, 2012-NMCA-008, \u00b6 6, 270 P.3d 104 (\u201cWhen interpreting the Constitution, we follow the plain meaning rule.\u201d); United Rentals Nw., Inc. v. Yearout Mech., Inc., 2010-NMSC-030, \u00b6 9, 148 N.M. 426, 237 P.3d 728 (\u201cThe first guiding principle in statutory construction dictates that we look to the wording of the statute and attempt to apply \u2018the plain meaning rule[.]\u2019\u201d (citation omitted)); see also NMSA 1978, \u00a7 12-2A-19 (1997) (\u201cThe text of a statute or rule is the primary, essential source of its meaning.\u201d). The plain meaning rule presumes that the words in a constitutional or statutory provision \u201chave been used according to their plain, natural, and usual signification and import, and the courts are not at liberty to disregard the plain meaning of words ... in order to search for some other conjectured intent.\u201d See In re Rescue Ecoversity Petition, 2012-NMCA-008, \u00b6 6 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); Truong v. Allstate Ins. Co., 2010-NMSC-009, \u00b6 37, 147 N.M. 583, 227 P.3d 73 (\u201c[T]he plain meaning rule, recogniz[es] that when a statute contains language which is clear and unambiguous, we must give effect to that language and refrain from further statutory interpretation.\u201d (alteration, internal quotation marks, and citation omitted)). Thus, pursuant to the plain meaning rule, we will not read into a constitutional or statutory provision \u201clanguage which is not there, especially when it makes sense as it is written.\u201d Reule Sun Corp. v. Valles, 2010-NMSC-004, \u00b6 15, 147 N.M. 512, 226 P.3d 611 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). With these considerations in mind, we now turn to the statutory and constitutional provisions that relate to this Court\u2019s jurisdiction and Defendant\u2019s right to appeal.\nJurisdiction\nThe Court of Appeals\u2019 jurisdiction is governed by Article VI, Section29 oftheNew Mexico Constitution and NMSA 1978, Section 34-5-8 (1983). Article VI, Section 29 provides that the Court of Appeals\nmay be authorized by law to review directly decisions of administrative agencies of the state, and it may be authorized by rules of the supreme court to issue all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of its appellate jurisdiction. In all other cases, it shall exercise appellate jurisdiction as may be provided by law.\nAs discussed above, \u201c[t]he phrase \u2018as may be provided by law\u2019 means that our Constitution or Legislature must vest us with appellate jurisdiction^]\u201d See Smallwood, 2007-NMSC-005, \u00b6 6. The Legislature has defined this Court\u2019s jurisdiction in Section 34-5-8. Section 34-5-8(A)(3) vests this Court with \u201cjurisdiction to review on appeal. . . criminal actions, except those in which a judgment of the district court imposes a sentence of death or life imprisonment.\u201d Based on the clear language of the statute, this Court has been vested with jurisdiction over appeals in all criminal actions with the limited exception of those where a sentence of death or life imprisonment is imposed. Had the Legislature intended to limit our jurisdiction to preclude review of the on-record appellate decisions of the district court, we assume it would have explicitly done so. See, e.g., Hanson v. Turney, 2004-NMCA-069, \u00b6 12, 136 N.M. 1, 94 P.3d 1 (\u201cIt is thus clear that if the [Legislature intended to treat permit holders the same as owners of water rights, it knew how to draft a statute which would successfully do so.\u201d); State ex rel. Citizens for Quality Educ. v. Gallagher, 1985-NMSC-030, \u00b6 13, 102 N.M. 516, 697 P.2d 935 (\u201c[H]ad the Legislature so desired, it would have prohibited withdrawal of signatures placed on a petition for recall. This Court will not read into the Recall Act language which is not there.\u201d). Given that the Legislature listed no other exceptions to this broad grant of jurisdiction, including no limitation on where the case originated, we conclude that Section 34-5-8(A)(3) provides this Court with jurisdiction over appeals in criminal actions originating in courts of limited jurisdiction.\nRight to Appeal\nOf course, a determination that this Court has jurisdiction does not end our inquiry. Instead, we must also determine whether Defendant has a right to appeal to this Court. The New Mexico Constitution provides aggrieved parties with \u201can absolute right to one appeal.\u201d N.M. Const, art. VI, \u00a7 2. This constitutional provision, however, has been interpreted as being limited to cases originating in district court. See Sanchez, 2007-NMSC-042, \u00b6 9 (\u201cArticle VI, Section 2 only applies to cases originating in district court, not to cases originating in courts of limited jurisdiction, such as a municipal court.\u201d). The corollary provision for cases originating in courts of limited jurisdiction is found in Article VI, Section 27. Section 27 provides: \u201cAppeals shall be allowed in all cases from the final judgments and decisions of the probate courts and other inferior courts to the district courts, and in all such appeals, trial shall be had de novo unless otherwise provided by law.\u201d N.M. Const, art. VI, \u00a7 27. The phrase \u201cunless otherwise provided by law\u201d has been interpreted to authorize the Legislature to change the form of the appeal from de novo to appellate, see State v. Ball, 1986-NMSC-030, \u00b6 10, 104 N.M. 176, 718 P.2d 686 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted), which the Legislature has done for criminal actions originating in metropolitan court \u201cinvolving driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquors or drugs.\u201d NMSA 1978, \u00a7 34-8A-6(C) (1993). Section 34-8A-6(C) provides:\nAny party aggrieved by a judgment rendered by the metropolitan court in a criminal action involving driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquors . . . may appeal to the district court of the county in which the metropolitan court is located within fifteen days after the judgment was rendered. The manner and method of appeal shall be set forth by supreme court rule.\nThe State points out that these provisions do not explicitly provide for an appeal to this Court, instead, referring only to appeals to district court. The State further argues that to the extent court procedural rules indicate that defendants have a right to appeal the district court\u2019s review ofametropolitan court decision to this Court, our Supreme Court was without authority to grant a right of appeal via rule. While we have acknowledged that the Supreme Court does not have authority to create or enlarge a right to appeal, the Supreme Court does have authority to promulgate procedural rules where the right to appeal has been provided by the Legislature. NMSA 1978, Section 39-3-3(A)(1) (1972) provides defendants in criminal proceedings with the right to appeal a final judgment of the district court to this Court, except in cases involving death or life imprisonment. See \u00a7 39-3-3(A)(l) (\u201cIn any criminal proceeding in district court an appeal may be taken by the defendant to the supreme court or court of appeals, as appellate jurisdiction may be vested by law in these courts . . .within thirty days from the entry of any final judgment[.]\u201d); \u00a7 34-5-8(A)(3).\nThe State argues that the term \u201ccriminal proceeding\u201d in Section 39-3-3 should not be interpreted as extending to a district court\u2019s \u201con-record review of a lower court judgment.\u201d The State\u2019s argument is premised on the fact that a defendant bears the burden to prosecute his or-her appeal in district court, see Rule 5-828 NMRA; that our case law describes an appeal as \u201cno part of the trial,\u201d see Ammerman v. Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc., 1976-NMSC-031, \u00b6 20, 89 N.M. 307, 551 P.2d 1354; and that the rules governing such appeals are collected under \u201cappeals\u201d or \u201cspecial proceedings\u201d within the Rules of Criminal Procedure for the Metropolitan Courts and District Courts, see Rules 7-703 and 5-827. Having considered these arguments, we conclude that the State\u2019s definition of \u201ccriminal proceeding\u201d is much too narrow.\nThe State essentially asks this Court to define \u201cproceeding\u201d as synonymous with \u201ctrial,\u201d and conclude that because the district court proceedings are appellate in nature they do not fall within the purview of Section 39-3-3(A)(1). Black\u2019s Law Dictionary defines \u201cproceeding\u201d much more broadly than the State would have us do. According to Black\u2019s,\n\u201cProceeding\u201d is a word much used to express the business done in courts. ... It is more comprehensive than the word \u201caction,\u201d but it may include in its general sense all the steps taken or measures adopted in the prosecution or defense of an action, including the pleadings and judgment. As applied to actions, the term \u201cproceeding\u201d may include \u2014 (1) the institution of the action; (2) the appearance of the defendant; (3) all ancillary or provisional steps,... (7) the trial; (8) the judgment; (9) the execution; . . . (11) the taking of the appeal or writ of error[.]\nBlack\u2019s Law Dictionary 1324 (9th ed. 2009). Based on this definition of \u201cproceeding,\u201d we conclude that Section 39-3-3(A)(l) is intended to include a defendant\u2019s right to appeal a district court\u2019s review of an on-record metropolitan court decision.\nMoreover, if this Court were to construe the term \u201cproceeding\u201d as the State suggests, we would necessarily have to conclude that our Supreme Court did not possess the authority to promulgate Rule 5-827(N); that by promulgating Rule 5-827(N), our Supreme Court exercised legislative power; and that by doing so it violated the New Mexico Constitution. \u201cIt is, of course, a well-established principle of statutory construction that statutes should be construed, if possible, to avoid constitutional questions.\u201d Lovelace Med. Ctr. v. Mendez, 1991-NMSC-002, \u00b6 12, 111 N.M. 336, 805 P.2d 603. Accordingly, where this Court is presented with a reasonable interpretation of a statute that does not call into question the constitutionality of the actions of our Supreme Court, that interpretation is the one this Court will adopt.\nFinally, the State argues that interpreting Section 39-3-3 to provide for a right to appeal under these circumstances would give rise to claims under the Equal Protection Clause. The State argues that to provide a second appeal by right for certain petty crimes, but not for more serious crimes, is an \u201cunreasoned distinction\u201d that bears no \u201crational relationship to any legitimate state interest.\u201d While we note that our interpretation of the relevant statutes recognize a different appellate procedure depending on the type of crime, we disagree that it rises to the level of an equal protection violation. Practically speaking, however, the Legislature\u2019s decision to alter the nature of the appeal for petty offenses originating in metropolitan court from de novo to on-record, eliminated the necessity for the most populous district in this State to hold a de novo trial where the case had already been heard by a law-trained judge. Compare NMSA 1978, \u00a7 34-8A-4(B) (1993) (providing that a metropolitan judge must be \u201ca member of the bar\u201d and have \u201cpracticed in this state for a period of three years\u201d), and \u00a7 34-8A-6(B), (C) (providing that the metropolitan court is a court of record for civil actions, criminal cases involving driving while under the influence, and domestic violence cases), with NMSA 1978, \u00a7 35-2-1 (1979, amended 2013) (providing that a magistrate judge must have \u201cgraduated from high school\u201d or \u201cattained the equivalent of a high school education\u201d), and NMSA 1978, \u00a7 35-13-2(A) (1996) (\u201cAppeals from the magistrate courts shall be tried de novo in the district court.\u201d). This decision also freed the State from having to retry the case, recall witnesses, or run the risk of losing evidence, and allows the district court more ease in managing its docket. Efforts aimed at improving the efficiency and economy of the operation of the most populous judicial district in this State appear to provide the rational basis for this distinction that the State argues is lacking. To the extent the State takes issue with these considerations as supporting the differences in appellate review, such policy determinations are not for this Court to make.\nCONCLUSION\nWe conclude Section 34-5-8(A)(3) vests this Court with jurisdiction to hear appeals from a district court\u2019s on-record review of a metropolitan court decision, and that Section 3 9-3-3 (A)(1) provides defendants with a right to appeal to this Court and invoke that grant of jurisdiction. As a result, we deny the State\u2019s motion to dismiss. Defendant\u2019s appeal will proceed to be calendared on its merits.\nIT IS SO ORDERED.\nMICHAEL E. VIGIL, Judge\nWE CONCUR:\nM. MONICA ZAMORA, Judge\nJ. MILES HANISEE, Judge\nPriorto being amendedin 1965, Article VI, Section 2 did not contain the language that \u201can aggrieved party shall have an absolute right to one appeal.\u201d Rather, die antecedent to our current Article VI, Section 2 merely stated: \u201cThe appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court shall be co-extcnsive with the state, and shall extend to all final judgments and decisions of the district courts, and said court shall have such appellate jurisdiction of interlocutory orders and decisions of the district courts as maybe conferred by law.\u201d Chacon, 1914-NMSC-079, \u00b6 4. In Chacon, our Supreme Court determined that the pre-amendment language conferred jurisdiction, but did not confer a right to appeal. See id. \u00b6 8.\nIn its motion and memorandum, the State refers to former Rule 7-703(R) NMRA (2009), which prior to being amended in 2012 stated: \u201c[a]n aggrieved party may appeal from a judgment of the district court to the New Mexico Supreme Court or New Mexico Court of Appeals, as authorized by law, in accordance with the Rules of Appellate Procedure.\u201d In 2012, this language was removed from Rule 7-703 and included in Rule 5-827(N) NMRA (\u201cAn aggrieved party may appeal from a judgment of the district court to the New Mexico Supreme Court or New Mexico Court of Appeals, as authorized by law, in accordance with the Rules of Appellate Procedure.\u201d).", "type": "majority", "author": "VIGIL, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Gary K. King, Attorney General Corinna Laszlo-Henry, Assistant Attorney General Santa Fe, NM for Appellee", "Bennett J. Baur, Acting ChiefPublic Defender Santa Fe, NM Susan Burgess-Farrell, District Public Defender Steven J. Forsberg, Assistant Public Defender Albuquerque, NM for Appellant" ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Certiorari Granted, January 26, 2015,\nNo. 35,063\nIN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO\nOpinion Number: 2015-NMCA-033\nFiling Date: October 21, 2013\nDocket No. 32,909\nSTATE OF NEW MEXICO, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. THADDEUS CARROLL, Defendant-Appellant.\nGary K. King, Attorney General Corinna Laszlo-Henry, Assistant Attorney General Santa Fe, NM for Appellee\nBennett J. Baur, Acting ChiefPublic Defender Santa Fe, NM Susan Burgess-Farrell, District Public Defender Steven J. Forsberg, Assistant Public Defender Albuquerque, NM for Appellant" }, "file_name": "0501-01", "first_page_order": 517, "last_page_order": 523 }