{ "id": 1599025, "name": "STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Jimmie R. HICKS, Defendant-Appellee", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Hicks", "decision_date": "1986-12-18", "docket_number": "No. 9449", "first_page": "286", "last_page": "289", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "105 N.M. 286" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "731 P.2d 982" } ], "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": "90 N.M. 552", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2869313 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/90/0552-01" ] }, { "cite": "668 P.2d 308", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "100 N.M. 192", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "100 N.M. 193", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1588582 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/100/0193-01" ] }, { "cite": "644 P.2d 1039", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "98 N.M. 50", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "97 N.M. 660", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1555219 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/97/0660-01" ] }, { "cite": "721 P.2d 1309", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "104 N.M. 378", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "104 N.M. 441", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1594882 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/104/0441-01" ] }, { "cite": "59 L.Ed.2d 50", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. 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Super.", "case_ids": [ 876064 ], "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nj-super/159/0104-01" ] }, { "cite": "158 Colo. 510", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Colo.", "case_ids": [ 4663852 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1965, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/colo/158/0510-01" ] }, { "cite": "226 A.2d 865", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "year": 1967, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "108 N.H. 58", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.H.", "case_ids": [ 4463482 ], "year": 1967, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nh/108/0058-01" ] }, { "cite": "2 Kan.App.2d 709", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Kan. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 414439 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/kan-app-2d/2/0709-01" ] }, { "cite": "212 P. 341", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "year": 1923, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "342" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "28 N.M. 344", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 8842071 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1923, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "347" }, { "page": "347" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/28/0344-01" ] }, { "cite": "78 N.M. 777", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 5320768 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "779" }, { "page": "523" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/78/0777-01" ] }, { "cite": "79 N.M. 677", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2735464 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "682" }, { "page": "483" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/79/0677-01" ] }, { "cite": "79 N.M. 632", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2739691 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1968, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/79/0632-01" ] }, { "cite": "545 F.2d 724", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1015014 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/545/0724-01" ] }, { "cite": "90 N.M. 246", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2872833 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/90/0246-01" ] }, { "cite": "104 N.M. 176", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1594945 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "698" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/104/0176-01" ] }, { "cite": "101 N.M. 355", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1586474 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/101/0355-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 626, "char_count": 10325, "ocr_confidence": 0.792, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.6711758972239932e-07, "percentile": 0.6959849782747952 }, "sha256": "6d34bb1d0e5e768f3869bed190324e62aec2e14dac3fb3116a8fd7a029585353", "simhash": "1:114f1ba7c2e53dca", "word_count": 1712 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:20:30.820213+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "MINZNER and FRUMAN, JJ\u201e concur." ], "parties": [ "STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Jimmie R. HICKS, Defendant-Appellee." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "OPINION\nGARCIA, Judge.\nThis appeal by the state concerns the power of district courts to dismiss criminal charges because of a delay in the filing of a criminal complaint. We discuss: (1) whether the district court erred in denying the state a de novo review on appeal from metropolitan court; (2) the considerations that should apply to motions to dismiss for unnecessary delay; and (3) whether the state\u2019s motion to amend the docketing statement was untimely.\nThe relevant facts are undisputed. Defendant was arrested for driving while intoxicated at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 21, 1985. He was released the following day after posting bail of $100. However, it was not until eight days later, on October 1st, that a criminal complaint was filed. Defendant moved to dismiss the charge on the ground that a criminal complaint was not filed \u201cforthwith\u201d as required by NMSA 1978, Metro.Rule 38(d) (Repl.1985). Rule 38(d) states:\nWhen a law enforcement officer makes an arrest without warrant he shall take the arrested person to the nearest available metropolitan court without unnecessary delay. In such cases, a complaint shall be filed forthwith by the law enforcement officer and a copy given to the defendant forthwith.\nSimilar requirements are contained in the rules for municipal and magistrate courts. See NMSA 1978, Magis.Crim.R. 4(d) (Repl.1985) and NMSA 1978, Mun.R. 5(e) (Repl.1985). The metropolitan court found that the complaint was not filed forthwith and dismissed the charge. The district court affirmed the dismissal, finding that dismissal under Metro.Rule 38(d) is discretionary and that the state had failed to demonstrate an abuse of the metropolitan court\u2019s discretion.\nDISTRICT COURT REVIEW\nThe state argues that the district court erred in applying an appellate standard of review to affirm the metropolitan court\u2019s dismissal of the complaint. The state contends that the district court was instead required to make an independent determination of whether the \u201cforthwith\u201d requirement in Metro.Rule 38(d) was complied with. We agree.\nThe New Mexico Constitution grants a right of appeal from the final judgments and decisions of inferior courts to the district courts, providing that, \u201cin all such appeals, trial shall be had de novo unless otherwise provided by law.\u201d N.M. Const, art. VI, \u00a7 27. See Smith v. Love, 101 N.M. 355, 683 P.2d 37 (1984); NMSA 1978, Metro.R. 71(b) (Repl.1985). Defendant claims the district court proceeding in this case was \u00abiot a \u201ctrial\u201d in the ordinary sense and, therefore, a de novo proceeding was not required. This argument is not consistent with the meaning of the word \u201cappeal\u201d in the context of art. VI, Section 27.\nIn the recent case of State v. Ball, 104 N.M. 176, 718 P.2d 686 (1986), the supreme court defined the right of appeal in art. VI, Section 27 as the right to have a cause removed from an inferior to a superior court. Although overruling this court\u2019s decision on the merits, the supreme court agreed with our analysis in the appendix to Ball that art. VI, Section 27 authorizes legislative changes only in the procedural form of the appeal. As noted in this court\u2019s decision in Ball, 718 P.2d at 698, the legislature has provided for appellate review of civil actions in the district court by making the metropolitan court a court of record in civil cases. See NMSA 1978, \u00a7 34-8A-6(B) and (D) (Repl.Pamp.1981); NMSA 1978, Metro.R. 76 (Repl.1985).\nBecause criminal actions in metropolitan court are still not of record, the right of appeal in such actions is the right to a trial or hearing de novo in the district court. See \u00a7 34-8A-6; Metro.R. 71. In de novo proceedings, the district court is not in any way bound by the proceedings in the lower court. See City of Farmington v. Sandoval, 90 N.M. 246, 561 P.2d 945 (Ct.App.1977). Accordingly, in this case it was incumbent upon the district court to make an independent determination of whether the \u201cforthwith\u201d requirement in Metro.Rule 38(d) was complied with. The cause is remanded to the district court for a determination of the issue consistent with the considerations set forth below.\nUNNECESSARY DELAY WARRANTING DISMISSAL\nThe question on remand is whether the nine-day delay between defendant\u2019s arrest and the filing of a criminal complaint constituted an unreasonable delay under Metro.Rule 38(d), justifying dismissal of the complaint.\nA trial court\u2019s inherent power to dismiss cases for want of prosecution is not unfettered. See United States v. Hudson, 545 F.2d 724 (10th Cir.1976). Rather, dismissal must be just and proper under the circumstances. Cf. State v. Reyes, 79 N.M. 632, 447 P.2d 512 (1968).\nThe procedural rule in question here, Metro.Rule 38(d), requires that a person arrested without a warrant be taken before a judicial officer \u201cwithout unnecessary delay,\u201d and that a complaint be filed \u201cforthwith.\u201d Prior New Mexico cases have construed the statutory use of the terms \u201cforthwith\u201d and \u201cimmediately\u201d to mean \u201cwith reasonable promptness and dispatch.\u201d See State v. Slicker, 79 N.M. 677, 682, 448 P.2d 478, 483 (Ct.App.1968); State v. Garcia, 78 N.M. 777, 779, 438 P.2d 521, 523 (Ct.App.1968); State v. Montgomery, 28 N.M. 344, 347, 212 P. 341, 342 (1923).\nThe court in State v. Montgomery, ruled that the term \u201cforthwith\u201d is necessarily elastic in meaning and must vary under the circumstances since \u201c[i]t would be absurd to say than an officer must immediately in all cases go directly to the magistrate with his prisoner, regardless of * * * all other circumstances surrounding the transaction.\u201d 28 N.M. at 347, 212 P.2d at 341. Other states apply an equally flexible construction to the \u201cforthwith\u201d requirement. See State v. Garton, 2 Kan.App.2d 709, 586 P.2d 1386 (1978); Hinse v. Burns, 108 N.H. 58, 226 A.2d 865 (1967); Gottfried v. People, 158 Colo. 510, 408 P.2d 431 (1965).\nWhen circumstances are such that the accused has been released from custody, or the delay in filing a complaint is not lengthy, courts in other jurisdictions have held that a dismissal of charges or reversal of the conviction is not justified. See State v. Garton; Gottfried v. People; see also State in Interest of H.M.T., 159 N.J.Super. 104, 387 A.2d 368 (1978). We also find persuasive the interpretation given to Fed. Rule Crim.P. 5(a), which contains language identical to Metro.Rule 38(d). Federal courts hold that the purpose of the rule is to obtain an early determination of probable cause, to prevent unlawful detentions and to reduce the opportunity for secret police interrogation. See United States v. Carignan, 342 U.S. 36, 72 S.Ct. 97, 96 L.Ed. 48 (1951); United States v. Fernandez-Guzman, 577 F.2d 1093 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 954, 99 S.Ct. 351, 58 L.Ed.2d 345 (1978). Where those dangers are not implicated, a procedural violation provides no basis for dismissal. See United States v. Jernigan, 582 F.2d 1211 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 991, 99 S.Ct. 592, 58 L.Ed.2d 666 (1978).\nUnder the federal rules, dismissal for untimeliness is pursuant to Fed.Rule Crim.P. 48(b). The federal rule embraces the concept of the court\u2019s inherent power of dismissal and was cited by our court in State v. Lopez, 99 N.M. 385, 658 P.2d 460 (Ct.App), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 831, 104 S.Ct. 111, 78 L.Ed.2d 113 (1983). Dismissal for delay under Rule 48(b) is discretionary. In exercising its discretion, the trial court may consider the same factors that are relevant in considering the constitutional right to a speedy trial. See United States v. DeLuna, 763 F.2d 897 (8th Cir.1985); United States v. Becker, 585 F.2d 703 (4th Cir.1978), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 1080, 99 S.Ct. 862, 59 L.Ed.2d 50 (1979); see also 3A C. Wright, Federal Practice and Procedure, Crim.2d \u00a7 814 (1982). The factors to be balanced in ruling on a speedy trial claim are: (1) the length of delay; (2) the reason for delay; (3) whether and how defendant asserts the right; and (4) prejudice to defendant. See State v. Kilpatrick, 104 N.M. 441, 722 P.2d 692 (Ct.App.), cert. denied, 104 N.M. 378, 721 P.2d 1309 (1986).\nWe agree with the state that the speedy trial factors provide a useful guide to the courts in evaluating untimeliness claims under Metro.Rule 38(d) and the analogous magistrate and municipal court rules, Mag-is.Crim.Rule 4(d) and Mun.Rule 5(e). On remand, the district court should rule on defendant\u2019s motion in light of these factors and the foregoing discussion of applicable law.\nDOCKETING STATEMENT\nDefendant contends that the state\u2019s motion to amend the docketing statement was untimely. Defendant relies on the rule applicable to cases assigned to the summary calendar in which motions to amend must be filed prior to the expiration of the time for filing a memorandum in opposition. See State v. Norush, 97 N.M. 660, 642 P.2d 1119 (Ct.App.), cert. denied, 98 N.M. 50, 644 P.2d 1039 (1982). However, the rule in Norush does not apply to cases that are reassigned from a summary to a non-summary calendar. In such cases, a motion to amend is considered timely when filed prior to the expiration of the original briefing time. See State v. Rael, 100 N.M. 193, 668 P.2d 309 (Ct.App.), cert. denied, 100 N.M. 192, 668 P.2d 308 (1983). Under the Rael rule, the state\u2019s motion to amend was timely.\nDefendant also contends that the state did not comply with other requirements in moving to remand. On the facts of this case, we conclude that the state\u2019s motion to amend was a motion to clarify its position. Because the issue as clarified was preserved at trial and because the docketing statement can be viewed as unclear rather than incomplete, the principle that favors resolving an appeal on the merits controls. See Eller v. State, 90 N.M. 552, 566 P.2d 101 (1977).\nCONCLUSION\nThe judgment of the district court is reversed and remanded for a redetermination of defendant\u2019s motion consistent with this opinion.\nIT IS SO ORDERED.\nMINZNER and FRUMAN, JJ\u201e concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "GARCIA, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Paul G. Bardacke, Atty. Gen., Bill Primm, Asst. Atty. Gen., Santa Fe, for plaintiff-appellant.", "Jacquelyn Robins, Chief Public Defender, Susan Gibbs, Asst. Appellate Defender, Santa Fe, for defendant-appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "731 P.2d 982\nSTATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Jimmie R. HICKS, Defendant-Appellee.\nNo. 9449.\nCourt of Appeals of New Mexico.\nDec. 18, 1986.\nCertiorari Denied Jan. 26,1987.\nPaul G. Bardacke, Atty. Gen., Bill Primm, Asst. Atty. Gen., Santa Fe, for plaintiff-appellant.\nJacquelyn Robins, Chief Public Defender, Susan Gibbs, Asst. Appellate Defender, Santa Fe, for defendant-appellee." }, "file_name": "0286-01", "first_page_order": 326, "last_page_order": 329 }