N.M. Ct. App. Policies & Procedures Manual IX

A. A majority of the panel may set the case for oral argument. The clerk

shall notify the parties of the time, date, and location of the oral

argument. The notice shall disclose the names of the panel members in

order of seniority.

At each hearing for which the Court is convened, the panel shall be

presided over by the chief judge if he or she is a member of the panel,

or otherwise by the senior judge of the panel.

C. People who are interested in, but not parties to, a case governed by

Children’s Code confidentiality provisions may want to attend oral

arguments in such cases. The policy of the Court, based on NMSA

1978, Section 32A-1-17(A), is to follow NMSA 1978, Section 32A-4-

20(C), which provides that the Court may approve the attendance of

persons not parties, counsel, or witnesses provided that the Court finds

such persons to have a proper interest in the case or the work of the

Court and on condition that they refrain from divulging any information

that would identify the child or family involved in the proceedings. The

judge presiding over the oral argument shall take such steps as deemed

necessary to ensure the conditions upon which persons not parties or

counsel are allowed into the argument, including orally admonishing

those persons and orally accepting their agreement or doing the same

in writing, in the discretion of the presiding judge.