{ "id": 1588581, "name": "George F. LUJAN, Petitioner-Appellant, v. NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE BOARD, Respondent-Appellee", "name_abbreviation": "Lujan v. New Mexico State Police Board", "decision_date": "1983-08-04", "docket_number": "No. 14456", "first_page": "149", "last_page": "152", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "100 N.M. 149" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "667 P.2d 456" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.M.", "id": 8835, "name": "Supreme Court of New Mexico" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 52, "name_long": "New Mexico", "name": "N.M." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "136 F.2d 562", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 3671304 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/136/0562-01" ] }, { "cite": "273 U.S. 510", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6142780 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1927, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/273/0510-01" ] }, { "cite": "421 U.S. 35", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 541084 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1975, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/421/0035-01" ] }, { "cite": "411 U.S. 564", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 10333 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1973, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/411/0564-01" ] }, { "cite": "92 N.M. 414", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1557099 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "416" }, { "page": "200" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/92/0414-01" ] }, { "cite": "695 F.2d 528", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1492031 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/695/0528-01" ] }, { "cite": "506 F.Supp. 571", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 4188708 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/506/0571-01" ] }, { "cite": "444 F.Supp. 1187", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 5743969 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/444/1187-01" ] }, { "cite": "70 L.Ed.2d 195", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "noting that unless procedural delays in obtaining transcripts rise to the level of due process violation, no affordable remedies are available" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "102 S.Ct. 369", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "S. Ct.", "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "noting that unless procedural delays in obtaining transcripts rise to the level of due process violation, no affordable remedies are available" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "454 U.S. 881", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6398627, 6398233, 6398030, 6398521, 6398136, 6398329, 6397914 ], "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "noting that unless procedural delays in obtaining transcripts rise to the level of due process violation, no affordable remedies are available" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/454/0881-07", "/us/454/0881-04", "/us/454/0881-02", "/us/454/0881-06", "/us/454/0881-03", "/us/454/0881-05", "/us/454/0881-01" ] }, { "cite": "645 F.2d 89", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1213268 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/645/0089-01" ] }, { "cite": "42 L.Ed.2d 134", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1974, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "95 S.Ct. 166", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "S. Ct.", "year": 1974, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "419 U.S. 888", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6377152, 6377379, 6376999, 6376849, 6376666, 6376412 ], "year": 1974, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/us/419/0888-05", "/us/419/0888-06", "/us/419/0888-04", "/us/419/0888-03", "/us/419/0888-02", "/us/419/0888-01" ] }, { "cite": "379 F.Supp. 175", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 3288770 ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/379/0175-01" ] }, { "cite": "96 L.Ed. 1068", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed.", "year": 1952, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "Frankfurter, J., not participating" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "343 U.S. 451", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 11340137 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1952, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "467", "parenthetical": "Frankfurter, J., not participating" }, { "page": "823", "parenthetical": "Frankfurter, J., not participating" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/us/343/0451-01" ] }, { "cite": "92 N.M. 414", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1557099 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "416" }, { "page": "200" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nm/92/0414-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 593, "char_count": 9160, "ocr_confidence": 0.772, "pagerank": { "raw": 7.01948500860457e-08, "percentile": 0.42364477620123797 }, "sha256": "478ea563332f99bd0c631218296d109759c760169fecc865b2d2fd2a3e17b56b", "simhash": "1:9f81131f928cc1bb", "word_count": 1497 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:45:38.267108+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "FEDERICI, RIORDAN and STOWERS, JJ., concur.", "SOSA, Senior Justice, respectfully dissenting." ], "parties": [ "George F. LUJAN, Petitioner-Appellant, v. NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE BOARD, Respondent-Appellee." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "OPINION\nPAYNE, Chief Justice.\nGeorge Lujan was terminated by the New Mexico State Police from his job as a civilian supply agent. The New Mexico Mexico State Police Board upheld Lujan\u2019s termination, and the district court affirmed. On appeal, Lujan claims he was denied procedural due process because: (1) the Chairman of the State Police Board refused to disqualify himself against claims of bias and partiality; and (2) Assistant Attorneys General represented both the Board and the Police Chief. We affirm.\nPrior to the termination hearing, Lujan moved to disqualify Mahlon Love, Chairman of the State Police Board, alleging that he was biased and incapable of rendering an impartial decision. Lujan based his motion upon two alleged \u201cconfrontations\u201d he had with Love within the preceding two years. Lujan\u2019s motion was denied on the ground that there was no good cause for disqualification. Although Love presided at the hearing, he did not participate in the vote that upheld Lujan\u2019s termination.\nLujan did not argue that the decision was not supported by substantial evidence nor did he attack it on the merits. A challenge of a decision on pure procedural grounds as Lujan has done in this case is moot, unless the procedural defects violate some constitutional or statutory prohibition. Accord United States v. Pratt, 645 F.2d 89 (1st Cir.1981), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 881, 102 S.Ct. 369, 70 L.Ed.2d 195 (1981) (noting that unless procedural delays in obtaining transcripts rise to the level of due process violation, no affordable remedies are available); Micelli v. LeFevre, 444 F.Supp. 1187 (S.D.N.Y.1978) (holding that statutory requirements for filing notice of appeal cannot be attacked on due process grounds in the absence of some showing that the failure to file resulted from ineffective assistance of counsel or improper conduct by the State); cf. Shaw v. Stone, 506 F.Supp. 571 (M.D.Ga.1981), aff\u2019d, 695 F.2d 528 (11th Cir.1983) (absence of the Chief Justice from oral argument does not create an error of constitutional due process proportions).\n1. Lujan contends that Love\u2019s failure to disqualify himself denied him a fair hearing because the two alleged \u201cconfrontations\u201d he had with Love amounted to at least the \u201cappearance of bias\u201d within the meaning of NMSA 1978, Code of Judicial Conduct Canon 3 (Rep.Pamp.1981 and Supp.1982). He relies on Reid v. New Mexico Bd. of Examiners, 92 N.M. 414, 589 P.2d 198 (1979).\nIn Reid, we reversed a Board of Examiners\u2019 decision revoking an optometrist\u2019s license to practice, because the Board failed to disqualify one of its members on the basis of bias. Although he admitted telling the optometrist\u2019s secretary that the optometrist would be losing his job, the Board member in Reid thought he could render a fair and impartial decision. The test we set forth in Reid was whether there is \u201cany indication of a possible temptation to an average man sitting as a judge to try the ease with bias for or against any issue presented to him.\u201d Id. at 416, 589 P.2d at 200; see generally Gibson v. Berryhill, 411 U.S. 564, 93 S.Ct. 1689, 36 L.Ed.2d 488 (1973).\nThe two incidents relied upon by Lujan to establish bias or an indication of possible temptation to try the case with bias differ substantially from the incident in Reid. The first incident occurred in September of 1979, when. Love went to the supply room to obtain supplies from Lujan. Lujan testified at trial that he \u201cmade the transfer out, and * * * told [Love] that [the order] had to be approved by Captain Pickett.\u201d Upon Captain Pickett\u2019s approval, Lujan gave Love the requested items. The second incident occurred in September of 1980, when Love requisitioned a cap shield from the supply room. Lujan informed Love that he could not fill his order because Love was not on the list of personnel approved to requisition supplies, whereupon Love obtained approval for his order from Larry Montoya, another employee who was on the approved list. While Lujan was getting the cap shield, Love told Montoya, \u201cI guess George [Lujan] doesn\u2019t understand. The Chief has told him thirteen or fourteen different times that I am the boss.\u201d\nIn our view, both incidents fall far short of showing a possible temptation to try the case with bias on the part of Love. Since the first incident merely indicates a casual over-the-counter transaction between two people, it lacks the negative confrontation alleged by Lujan. Although in the second incident Lujan believes he \u201cupset\u201d Love, we search the record in vain for any conduct or harsh language on the part of Love that would indicate a \u201cpossible temptation of bias.\u201d In fact, the record shows that aside from these minor incidents both parties got along well.\n2. Lujan next contends that he was denied due process because both the Board and the Police Chief were represented by Assistant Attorneys General. We disagree.\nLujan neither alerted the Board or the district court of any conflicts or prejudice as a result of the nature of his representation, nor did he move to disqualify adverse counsel during the initial stage of the proceeding. On the contrary, he stipulated that the Police Chief\u2019s attorney neither counseled nor advised the Board on any niatter pertaining to his termination. Moreover, we note that counsel for the Police Chief is paid by the New Mexico State Police, and his office is at the State Police complex in Santa Fe. In contrast, counsel for the Board is paid by the State Attorney General, and does not maintain an office at the Santa Fe State Police complex.\nWe agree with Lujan that a fair trial in a fair tribunal is an essential requirement of due process, and that this concept applies to administrative agencies as well as to courts. Withrow v. Larkin, 421 U.S. 35, 95 S.Ct. 1456, 43 L.Ed.2d 712 (1975); Tumey v. Ohio, 273 U.S. 510, 47 S.Ct. 437, 71 L.Ed. 749 (1927). Safeguarding this requirement is especially essential in administrative proceedings where certain basic rights are overlooked in the interest of administrative efficiency and expedition. National Labor Relations Board v. Phelps, 136 F.2d 562 (5th Cir.1943). Nevertheless, we find that Lujan\u2019s rights were not violated.\nThe decision of the district court is affirmed.\nIT IS SO ORDERED.\nFEDERICI, RIORDAN and STOWERS, JJ., concur.\nSOSA, Senior Justice, respectfully dissenting.", "type": "majority", "author": "PAYNE, Chief Justice." }, { "text": "SOSA, Senior Justice,\ndissenting.\nI respectfully dissent. I believe that Mahlon Love, Chairman of the State Police Board, should have recused himself from presiding over Mr. Lujan\u2019s termination hearing. I would reverse and remand for a new hearing.\nIt is the general rule in New Mexico that \u201c[a] judge should disqualify himself in a proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including * * * where: (a) he has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party or personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceeding. * * * \u201d NMSA 1978, Code of Judicial Conduct Canon 3(C) (Supp. 1982). Such a rule is based on the principle that \u201cthe administration of justice should reasonably appear to be disinterested as well as be so in fact.\u201d Public Utilities Commission v. Pollak, 343 U.S. 451, 467, 72 S.Ct. 813, 823, 96 L.Ed. 1068 (1952) (Frankfurter, J., not participating) (emphasis added).\nThe principles behind disqualification requirements apply to adjudicatory procedures of an administrative tribunal as well as to a court. Wall v. American Optometric Association, Inc., 379 F.Supp. 175 (N.D.Ga.), aff\u2019d mem., 419 U.S. 888, 95 S.Ct. 166, 42 L.Ed.2d 134 (1974); 1 Am.Jur.2d Administrative Law \u00a7 63 (1962). New Mexico applies these principles to administrative proceedings. Reid v. New Mexico Board of Examiners, 92 N.M. 414, 589 P.2d 198 (1979). The basis for the standard for disqualification of an administrative hearing officer which is set forth in Reid is that \u201cour system of justice requires that the appearance of complete fairness be present.\u201d Reid, 92 N.M. at 416, 589 P.2d at 200.\nIn the instant case, as in Reid, there was an appearance of impropriety. Although Mr. Love did not vote on the issue of termination, he did preside over the hearing. Mr. Love also was present during the Board\u2019s deliberations on the issue of whether he should be disqualified. A review of the record reveals that Mr. Love thought that Mr. Lujan might have been trying to agitate him when Mr. Lujan refused to issue him supplies without appropriate authorization. In addition, at the beginning of the hearing, Mr. Love was a potential witness against Mr. Lujan. I would hold that because there was an appearance of impropriety, Mr. Love\u2019s failure to recuse himself constituted reversible error. I would reverse and remand for a new hearing before a State Police Board free from even the appearance of partiality.", "type": "dissent", "author": "SOSA, Senior Justice," } ], "attorneys": [ "David R. Sierra, Sarah M. Singleton, Santa Fe, for petitioner-appellant.", "Paul G. Bardacke, Atty. Gen., Robert D. Gardenhire, Asst. Atty. Gen., John W. Cassell, Sp. Asst. Atty. Gen., Santa Fe, for respondent-appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "667 P.2d 456\nGeorge F. LUJAN, Petitioner-Appellant, v. NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE BOARD, Respondent-Appellee.\nNo. 14456.\nSupreme Court of New Mexico.\nAug. 4, 1983.\nDavid R. Sierra, Sarah M. Singleton, Santa Fe, for petitioner-appellant.\nPaul G. Bardacke, Atty. Gen., Robert D. Gardenhire, Asst. Atty. Gen., John W. Cassell, Sp. Asst. Atty. Gen., Santa Fe, for respondent-appellee." }, "file_name": "0149-01", "first_page_order": 181, "last_page_order": 184 }