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

A. Qualifications and Duties of Chief Appellate Attorney

(1) The qualifications for appointment to the position of chief

appellate attorney shall be in accordance with the NMJB

Personnel Rules.

(2) The chief appellate attorney shall perform those duties specified

in the job description for such office and as delegated by the

judges and/or the chief judge. The chief appellate attorney shall

prepare and send monthly statistics regarding DACA work

product at the direction of the judges and/or the chief judge. The

chief appellate attorney shall supervise the DACA staff and work

of the division.

(3) The chief appellate attorney shall draft, and from time to time

update, a manual of operating procedures for DACA.

(4) The chief appellate attorney, in consultation with the judges and

the chief judge, shall conduct an annual orientation and training

for new law clerks, collaborating with the Supreme Court when

appropriate.

(5) The chief appellate attorney shall ensure that a law clerk manual

is prepared and maintained.

B. Succession Plan

The chief appellate attorney will determine how to redistribute their

caseload and/or reassign their duties upon leaving the Court. If the chief

appellate attorney leaves before making such determination, the chief

judge, in collaboration with DACA supervisors when appropriate, will

redistribute the chief appellate attorney’s caseload and/or reassign their

duties.

Likewise, the chief appellate attorney will determine how to

redistribute a staff attorney’s caseload and/or reassign their duties upon

their departure from the Court.

C. DACA Duties

(1) After an appeal has been filed, DACA shall receive and review

all cases and submit a recommendation to the calendaring judge

for an appropriate calendaring assignment or disposition.

(2) DACA shall prepare projects for consideration by the panel

assigned to issue a general calendar opinion in as many cases as

practicable and as DACA’s summary calendaring

responsibilities permit.

(3) DACA shall make recommendations on any motions pending in

any cases sent to it for calendaring or projects and shall also make

recommendations on any cases referred by the chief clerk or

calendaring judge.

(4) DACA work shall be consistent with the New Mexico Appellate

Court Technical Handbook.