NM · rules
N.M. Sup. Ct. Order No. S-1-AO-2025-00013 (amended) Q
Judicial discretion; disqualification and excusal
Action by any court on any 13
matter relating to pretrial release shall not preclude the subsequent statutory disqualifica tion of a 14
judge. A judge may not be excused from setting initial conditions of release unless the judge is 15
required to recuse under the provisions of the New Mexico Constitution or the Code of Judicial 16
Conduct. 17
[As amended, effective August 1, 1987; October 1, 1987; September 1, 1990; December 1, 1990; 18
as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 07-8300, effective January 22, 2008; by Supreme Court 19
Order No. 08-8300-044, effective December 31, 2008; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 20
17-8300-005, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after July 1, 2017; as amended by 21
Supreme Court Order No. 22- 8300-015, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after 22
December 31, 2022; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. S -1-RCR-2023-00021, effective 23
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for all cases pending or filed on or after December 31, 2023; as amended by Supreme Court Order 1
No. S-1-RCR-2024-00068, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after May 8, 2024; as 2
provisionally amended by Supreme Court Order No. S-1-AO-2025-00013, effective for all cases 3
pending or filed on or after July 29, 2025.] 4
Committee commentary. — This rule provides “the mechanism through which a person 5
may effectuate the right to pretrial release afforded by Article II, Section 13 of the New Mexico 6
Constitution.” State v. Brown, 2014-NMSC-038, ¶ 37, 338 P.3d 1276. In 2016, Article II, Section 7
13 was amended (1) to permit a court of record to order the detention of a felony defendant pending 8
trial if the prosecutor proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defen dant poses a danger 9
to the safety of any other person or the community and that no release condition or combination 10
of conditions will reasonably ensure the safety of any other person or the community, and (2) to 11
require the pretrial release of a defendant who is in custody solely because of financial inability to 12
post a secured bond. This rule was derived from the federal statute governing the release or 13
detention of a defendant pending trial. See 18 U.S.C. § 3142. This rule was amended in 2017 to 14
implement the 2016 amendment to Article II, Section 13 and the Supreme Court’s holding 15
in Brown, 2014-NMSC-038. Corresponding rules are located in the Rules of Criminal Procedure 16
for the District Courts, see Rule 5-401 NMRA, the Rules of Criminal Procedure for the 17
Metropolitan Courts, see Rule 7-401 NMRA, and the Rules of Procedure for the Municipal 18
Courts, see Rule 8-401 NMRA. 19
Time periods specified in this rule are computed in accordance with Rule 6-104 NMRA. 20
Just as assistance of counsel is required at a detenti on hearing under Rule 5-409 NMRA 21
that may result in a denial of pretrial release based on dangerousness, Subparagraphs (A)(2), 22
(H)(2), and (H)(3) of this rule provide that assistance of counsel is required in a proceeding that 23
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may result in denial of pretr ial release based on reasons that do not involve dangerousness, such 1
as a simple inability to meet a financial condition. 2
As set forth in Paragraph B, a defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance or 3
unsecured bond unless the court determines that a release, in addition to any non-monetary 4
conditions of release under Paragraph D, will not reasonably ensure the appearance of the 5
defendant and the safety of any other person or the community. 6
Paragraph C lists the factors the court should conside r when determining conditions of 7
release. In all cases, the court is required to consider any available results of a pretrial risk 8
assessment instrument approved by the Supreme Court for use in the jurisdiction and the financial 9
resources of the defendant. 10
Paragraph D lists various non-monetary conditions of release. The court must impose the 11
least restrictive condition, or combination of conditions, that will reasonably ensure the appearance 12
of the defendant as required and the safety of any other person a nd the community. See 13
Brown, 2014-NMSC-038, ¶¶ 1, 37, 39. If the defendant has previously been released on standard 14
conditions before a court appearance, the judge should review the conditions at the defendant’s 15
first appearance to determine whether any particularized conditions should be imposed under the 16
circumstances of the case. 17
Paragraph D also permits the court to impose non-monetary conditions of release to ensure 18
the orderly administration of justice. This provision was derived from the American Bar 19
Association, ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: Pretrial Release, Standard 10-5.2 (3d ed. 2007). 20
Some conditions of release may have a cost associated with the condition. The court should make 21
a determination about whether the defendant can afford to pay all or a part of the cost, or whether 22
the court has the authority to waive the cost, because detaining a defendant because of inability to 23
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pay the cost associated with a condition of release is comparable to detaining a defendant because 1
of financial inability to post a secured bond. 2
As set forth in Paragraph E, the only purpose for which the court may impose a secured 3
bond is to ensure that the defendant will appear for trial and other pretrial proceedings for which 4
the defendant must be present. See Stat e v. Ericksons, 1987-NMSC-108, ¶ 6, 106 N.M. 567, 746 5
P.2d 1099 (“[T]he purpose of bail is to secure the defendant’s attendance to submit to the 6
punishment to be imposed by the court.”); see also NMSA 1978, § 31- 3-2(B)(2) (1993) 7
(authorizing the forfeiture of bond on the defendant’s failure to appear). 8
The 2017 amendments to this rule clarify that the amount of secured bond must not be 9
based on a bond schedule, i.e., a predetermined schedule of monetary amounts fixed according to 10
the nature of the charge. I nstead, the court must consider the individual defendant’s financial 11
resources and must set secured bond at the lowest amount that will reasonably ensure the 12
defendant’s appearance in court after the defendant is released. 13
Secured bond cannot be used for t he purpose of detaining a defendant who may pose a 14
danger to the safety of any other person or the community. See Brown, 2014-NMSC-038, ¶ 53 15
(“Neither the New Mexico Constitution nor our rules of criminal procedure permit a judge to set 16
high bail for the purpose of preventing a defendant’s pretrial release.”); see also Stack v. Boyle, 17
342 U.S. 1, 5 (1951) (stating that secured bond set higher than the amount reasonably calculated 18
to ensure the defendant’s appearance in court “is ‘excessive’ under the Eighth Amendment”). A 19
felony defendant who poses a danger that cannot be mitigated through the imposition of non-20
monetary conditions of release under Paragraph D of this rule should be detained under Article II, 21
Section 13 of the New Mexico Constitution and Rule 5-409 NMRA. 22
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The court should consider the authorized types of secured bonds in the order of priority set 1
forth in Paragraph E. The court must first consider requiring an appearance bond secured by a cash 2
deposit of ten percent (10%). No other percentage is permitted under the rule. If a cash deposit of 3
ten percent (10%) is inadequate, the court then must consider a property bond involving property 4
that belongs to the defendant or other unpaid surety. If neither of these options is sufficient to 5
reasonably ensure the defendant’s appearance, the court may require a cash or surety bond for the 6
defendant’s release. If the court requires a cash or surety bond, the defendant has the option either 7
to execute an appearance bond and deposit one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of the bond 8
with the court or to purchase a bond from a paid surety. Under Subparagraph (E)(2)(c), the 9
defendant alone has the choice to post the bond by a one hundred percent (100%) cash deposit or 10
a surety. The court does not have the option to set a cash-only bond or a surety-only bond; it must 11
give the defendant the choice of either. A paid surety may execute a surety bond or a real or 12
personal property bond only if the conditions of Rule 6-401.2 NMRA are met. 13
Paragraph F governs the contents of an order setting conditions of release. See Form 9-14
303 NMRA (order setting conditions of release). Although pretrial release hearings are not 15
required to be a matter of record in the magistrate court, Paragraph F requires the court to make 16
written findings justifying the imposition of a secured bond. Judges are encouraged to enter their 17
written findings on the order setting conditions of release at the conclusion of the hearing. If more 18
detailed findings are necessary, the judge should make the supplemental findings in a separate 19
document within two (2) days of the conclusion of the hearing. 20
Paragraph G addresses pretrial detention of a dangerous defendant under Article II, Section 21
13 of the New Mexico Constitution. If the defendant poses a danger t o the safety of any other 22
person or the community that cannot be addressed through the imposition of non- monetary 23
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conditions of release, the prosecutor may file a motion for pretrial detention. If the prosecutor files 1
a motion for pretrial detention, the magistrate court must follow the procedures set forth in Rule 6-2
409 NMRA. 3
Paragraph H sets forth the procedure for review of the defendant’s conditions of release in 4
the magistrate court. Paragraph J sets forth the procedure for the defendant to petition the district 5
court for release or for review of the conditions of release set by the magistrate court. Article II, 6
Section 13 of the New Mexico Constitution requires the court to rule on a motion or petition for 7
pretrial release “in an expedited manner” and to release a defendant who is being held solely 8
because of financial inability to post a secured bond. A defendant who wishes to present financial 9
information to a court to support a motion or a petition for pretrial release may present Form 9-10
301A NMRA (pretrial release financial affidavit) to the court. The defendant shall be entitled to 11
appear and participate personally with counsel before the judge conducting any hearing to review 12
the conditions of release, rather than by any means of remote electronic conferencing. 13
Paragraph K requires the magistrate court to prioritize the scheduling of trial and other 14
proceedings for cases in which the defendant is held in custody because of inability to post bond 15
or meet the conditions of release. See generally United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 747 (1987) 16
(concluding that the detention provisions in the Bail Reform Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3142, did not violate 17
due process, in part because of “the stringent time limitations of the Speedy Trial Act,” 18 U.S.C. 18
§ 3161); Am. Bar Ass’n, ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: Pretrial Release, Standard 10-5.11 19
(3d ed. 2007) (“Every jurisdiction should establish, by statute or court rule, accelerated time limits 20
within which detained defendants should be tried consistent with the sound administration of 21
justice.”). This rule does not preclude earlier or more regular status review hearings. The purpose 22
of the hearing is to determine how best to expedite a trial in the case. A meaningful review of the 23
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progress of the case includes assessment of the parties’ compliance with applicable deadlines, 1
satisfaction of discovery obligations, and witness availability, among other matters. If the court 2
determines that the parties have made insufficient progress on these measures, then it shall issue 3
an appropriate scheduling order. 4
Under NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-1 (1972), the court may appoint a designee to carry out 5
the provisions of this rule. As set forth in Paragraph M, a designee must be designated by the 6
presiding magistrate court judge in a written court order. A person may not be appointed as a 7
designee if that person is related within the second degree of blood or marriage to a paid surety 8
licensed in this state to execute bail bonds. A jailer may be appointed as a designee. Paragraph M 9
and Rule 6-408 NMRA govern the limited circumstances under which a designee shall release an 10
arrested defendant from custody before that defendant’s first appearance before a judge. 11
Paragraph N requires the magistrate court to transfer any bond to the district court on notice 12
from the district attorney that an information or indictment has been filed. See Rule 6-202(E)-(F) 13
NMRA (requiring the district attorney to notify the magistrate court of the filing of an information 14
or indictment in the district court). 15
Paragraph O of this rule dovetails with Rule 11- 1101(D)(3)(e) NMRA. Both provide that 16
the Rules of Evidence do not apply to proceedings in the magistrate court with respect to matters 17
of pretrial release. As with courts in other types of proceedings in which the Rules of Evidence do 18
not apply, a court presiding over a pretrial release hearing is responsible “for assessing the 19
reliability and accuracy” of the information presented. See United States v. Martir, 782 F.2d 1141, 20
1145 (2d Cir. 1986) (explaining that in a pretrial detention hearing the judge “retains the 21
responsibility for assessing the reliability and accuracy of the government’s information, whether 22
presented by proffer or by direct proof”); see also United States v. Marshall, 519 F. Supp. 751, 23
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754 (E.D. Wis. 1981) (“So long as the information which the sentencing judge considers has 1
sufficient indicia of reliability to support its probable accuracy, the information may properly be 2
taken into account in passing sentence.”), aff’d, 719 F.2d 887 ( 7th Cir. 1983); State v. 3
Guthrie, 2011-NMSC-014, ¶¶ 36- 39, 43, 150 N.M. 84, 257 P.3d 904 (explaining that in a 4
probation revocation hearing, the court should focus on the reliability of the evidence). 5
Consistent with Rule 6-106 NMRA, a party cannot exercise the statutory right to excuse a 6
judge who is setting initial conditions of release. See NMSA 1978, § 35-3-7 (1983). Paragraph Q 7
of this rule does not prevent a judge from filing a recusal either on the court’s own motion or 8
motion of a party. See N.M. Const. art. VI, § 18; Rule 21-211 NMRA. 9
[Adopted by Supreme Court Order No. 17-8300-005, effective for all cases pending or filed on or 10
after July 1, 2017; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 22- 8300-015, effective for all cases 11
pending or filed on or afte r December 31, 2022; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. S -1-12
RCR-2024-00068, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after May 8, 2024.] 13
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6-403. Revocation or modification of release orders. 1
A. Scope. In accordance with this rule, the court may consider revocation of the 2
defendant’s pretrial release or modification of the defendant’s conditions of release 3
(1) if the defendant is alleged to have violated a condition of release; or 4
(2) to prevent interference with witnesses or the proper administration of 5
justice. 6
B. Revocation or modification of conditions of release. 7
(1) The court shall consider revocation of the defendant’s pretrial release or 8
modification of the defendant’s conditions of release on motion of the prosecutor, on notice of a 9
non-technical violation of a condition of release by a court pretr ial services agency, or on the 10
court’s own motion. 11
(2) The defendant may file a response to the motion, but the filing of a response 12
shall not delay any hearing under Paragraph D [or E] of this rule. 13
C. Issuance of summons or bench warrant; temporary detention of certain 14
defendants. 15
(1) On motion or notice of a non-technical violation of a condition of release by 16
a court pretrial services agency, the court shall enter an order with specific findings about why 17
amended or revoked conditions of release are unnecessary, or the court shall issue a summons and 18
notice of hearing, unless the court finds that the interests of justice may be better served by the 19
issuance of a bench warrant. The summons or bench warrant shall include notice of the reasons 20
for the review of the pretrial release decision. 21
(2) A defendant previously released by any court in this state pending any 22
felony charge or pending a charge for an enumerated misdemeanor, who is arrested and charged 23
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with a new felony or new enumerated misdemeanor defined in Rule 5-403.1 NMRA alleged to 1
have occurred during the period of initial release, shall be held without conditions of release 2
pending [an initial] a hearing pursuant to Paragraph D of this rule. The [initial] hearing required 3
by Paragraph D shall be conducted by the court with current jurisdiction over the defendant’s 4
initial conditions of release. 5
(3) A defendant previously released by any court in this state pending any 6
felony charge or pending a charge for an enumerated misd emeanor defined in Rule 5-7
403.1 NMRA, who is charged but not arrested for a new felony or new enumerated misdemeanor 8
alleged to have occurred during the period of initial release, shall be summonsed by the court with 9
current jurisdiction over the defendant’s initial conditions of release to [an initial] a hearing 10
required by Paragraph D of this rule, unless the court finds that the interests of justice may be 11
better served by the issuance of a bench warrant. The [initial] hearing required by Paragraph D 12
shall be conducted by the court with current jurisdiction over the defendant’s initial conditions of 13
release. 14
[D. Initial hearing. 15
(1) The court shall hold an initial hearing as soon as practicable. If the defendant 16
is in custody, the hearing shall be held no later than three (3) days after the defendant is detained 17
if the defendant is being held in the local detention center, or no later than five (5) days after the 18
defendant is detained if the defendant is not being held in the local detention center. If the 19
defendant is not in custody, the hearing shall be held no later than ten (10) days after the motion 20
or notice of alleged violation is filed. 21
(2) At the initial hearing, the court may continue the existing conditions of 22
release, set different conditions of release, or if the court is considering revocation of release, the 23
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court shall schedule an evidentiary hearing under Paragraph E of this rule, unless waived by the 1
defendant. 2
(3) If at the conclusion of the initial hearing, the court continues or amends the 3
defendant’s conditions of release, then a written order continuing or amending the defendant’s 4
conditions of release shall be provided to the defendant at the time of release from custody if the 5
defendant is in custody, or within three (3) days of the hearing if the defendant is not in custody. 6
If the defendant waives the evidentiary hearing under Paragraph E and the court finds that the 7
conditions of release should be revoked, an order revoking conditions of release, including written 8
findings of the individualized facts justifying revocation, shall be filed within three (3) days of the 9
initial hearing.] 10
[E.] D. [Evidentiary hearing.] Hearing on alleged violation. 11
(1) Time. [The evidentiary] A hearing shall be held as soon as practicable. If 12
the defendant is in custody, the [evidentiary] hearing shall be held no later than [seven (7)] five (5) 13
days after the [initial hearing] defendant is detained. If the defendant is not in custody, the 14
[evidentiary] hearing shall be held no later than ten (10) days after the [initial hearing] motion or 15
notice of alleged violation is filed. 16
(2) At the hearing, the court may continue the existing conditions of release, set 17
different conditions of release, or if the court is considering revocation of release, the court shall 18
conduct an evidentiary hearing, unless waived by the defendant. 19
[(2)] (3) Defendant’s rights. The defendant has the right to be present and to be 20
represented by counsel and, if financially unable to obtain counsel, to have counsel appointed. 21
[The] If the court is considering revocation of release and an evidentiary hearing is conducted, the 22
defendant shall be afforded an opportunity to testify, to present witnesses, to compel the attendance 23
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of witnesses, to cross-examine witnesses who appear at the hearing, and to present information by 1
proffer or otherwise. If the defendant testifies at the hearin g, the defendant’s testimony shall not 2
be used against the defendant at trial except for impeachment purposes or in a subsequent 3
prosecution for perjury. 4
[F.] E. Order at completion of [evidentiary] hearing. 5
(1) If at the conclusion of the hearing, the court continues or amends the 6
defendant’s conditions of release, then a written order continuing or amending the defendant’s 7
conditions of release shall be provided to the defendant at the time of the release from custody if 8
the defendant is in custody, or within three (3) days of the hearing if the defendant is not in custody. 9
(2) If the defendant waives an evidentiary hearing and the court finds that the 10
conditions of release should be revoked, an order revoking conditions of release, including written 11
findings of the individualized facts justifying revocation, shall be filed within three (3) days of the 12
hearing. 13
(3) If an evidentiary hearing is conducted, at [At] the completion of [an] the 14
evidentiary hearing, the court shall determine whether the defendant has violated a condition of 15
release or whether revocation of the defendant’s release is necessary to prevent interference with 16
witnesses or the proper administration of justice, and may: 17
[(1)] (a) continue the existing conditions of release; 18
[(2)] (b) set new or additional conditions of release in accordance with 19
Rule 6-401 NMRA; or 20
[(3)] (c) revoke the defendant’s release, if the court 21
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[(a)] (i) finds either probable cause to believe that the defendant 1
committed a federal, state, or l ocal crime while on release, or clear and convincing evidence that 2
the defendant has willfully violated any other condition of release; and 3
[(i) probable cause to believe that the defendant committed a 4
federal, state, or local crime while on release; or 5
(ii) clear and convincing evidence that the defendant has 6
willfully violated any other condition of release; and] 7
[(b)] (ii) finds clear and convincing evidence that either no condition 8
or combination of conditions will reasonably ensure the defendant’s compliance with the release 9
conditions ordered by the court, or revocation of the defendant’s release is necessary to prevent 10
interference with witnesses or the proper administration of justice. 11
[(i) no condition or combination of condit ions will reasonably 12
ensure the defendant’s compliance with the release conditions ordered by the court; or 13
(ii) revocation of the defendant’s release is necessary to prevent 14
interference with witnesses or the proper administration of justice.] 15
(4) [An] If the court revokes conditions of release after an evidentiary hearing, 16
an order revoking release shall include written findings of the individualized facts justifying 17
revocation and shall be filed within three (3) days of the evidentiary hearing. 18
(5) If the court continues or amends the defendant’s conditions of release after 19
an evidentiary hearing, then a written order continuing or amending the defendant’s conditions of 20
release shall be provided to the defendant at the time of release from custody if the defendant is in 21
custody, or within three (3) days of the hearing if the defendant is not in custody. 22
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[G.] F. Evidence. The New Mexico Rules of Evidence shall not apply to the presentation 1
and consideration of information at [any] a hearing under this rule. 2
[H.] G. Review of conditions. If the magistrate court enters an order setting new or 3
additional conditions of release and the defendant is detained or continues to be detained because 4
of a failure to meet a condition imposed, or i s subject to a requirement to return to custody after 5
specified hours, the defendant may petition the district court for review in accordance with Rule 6-6
401(J) NMRA. The defendant may petition the district court immediately on the issuance of the 7
magistrate court order and shall not be required to first seek review or reconsideration by the 8
magistrate court. If, on disposition of the petition by the district court, the defendant is detained or 9
continues to be detained because of a failure to meet a conditi on imposed, or is subject to a 10
requirement to return to custody after specified hours, the defendant may appeal in accordance 11
with Rule 5-405 NMRA and Rule 12-204 NMRA. 12
[I.] H. Expedited trial scheduling for defendant in custody. The magistrate court shall 13
provide expedited priority scheduling in a case in which the defendant is detained pending trial. 14
The court shall hold a status review hearing in any case in which the defendant has been held for 15
more than sixty (60) days. The purpose of the status review hearing is to conduct a meaningful 16
review of the progress of the case. If the court determines that insufficient progress has been made, 17
then the court shall issue an appropriate scheduling order. 18
[J.] I. Petition to district court for review of revocatio n order. If the magistrate court 19
issues an order revoking the defendant’s release, the defendant may petition the district court for 20
review under this paragraph and Rule 5-403(K) NMRA. 21
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(1) Petition; requirements. The petition shall include the specif ic facts that 1
warrant review by the district court and may include a request for a hearing. The petitioner shall 2
promptly 3
(a) file a copy of the district court petition in the magistrate court; 4
(b) serve a copy on the district attorney; and 5
(c) provide a copy to the assigned district court judge. 6
(2) Magistrate court’s jurisdiction pending determination of the petition. On 7
the filing of the petition, the magistrate court’s jurisdiction to set or amend conditions of release 8
shall be suspended pending determination of the petition by the district court. The magistrate court 9
shall retain jurisdiction over all other aspects of the case, and the case shall proceed in the 10
magistrate court while the petition is pending. 11
(3) District court review. The d istrict court shall rule on the petition in an 12
expedited manner. 13
(a) Within three (3) days after the petition is filed, the district court shall 14
take one of the following actions: 15
(i) issue an order affirming the revocation order; or 16
(ii) set a hearing to be held within ten (10) days after the filing 17
of the petition and promptly send a copy of the notice to the magistrate court. 18
(b) If the district court holds a hearing on the petition, at the conclusion 19
of the hearing the court shall issue either an order affirming the revocation order or an order setting 20
conditions of release under Rule 5-401 NMRA. 21
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(4) District court order; transmission to magistrate court. The district court 1
shall promptly send the order to the magistrate court, and jurisdiction over the conditions of release 2
shall revert to the magistrate court. 3
(5) Appeal. If the district court affirms the revocation order, the defendant may 4
appeal in accordance with Rule 5-405 NMRA and Rule 12-204 NMRA. 5
[As amended, effective September 1, 1990; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 08-8300-6
044, effective December 31, 2008; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 17- 8300-005, 7
effective for all cases pending or filed on or after July 1, 2017; as amended by Supreme Court 8
Order No. 18-8300-024, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after February 1, 2019; as 9
amended by Supreme Court Order No. 22-8300-015, effective for all cases pending or filed on or 10
after December 31, 2022; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. S -1-RCR-2024-00068, 11
effective for all cases pending or filed on or after May 8, 2024; as provisionally amended by 12
Supreme Court Order No. S-1-AO-2025-00013, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after 13
July 29, 2025.] 14
Committee commentary. — The 2017 amendments to this rule clarify the procedure for 15
the court to follow when considering revocation of the defendant’s pretrial release or modification 16
of the defendant’s conditions of release for violating the conditions of release. In State v. 17
Segura, 2014-NMCA-037, ¶¶ 1, 24- 25, 321 P.3d 140, overruled on other grounds by State v. 18
Ameer, 2018-NMSC-030, ¶ 69, 458 P.3d 390, the Court of Appeals held that due process requires 19
courts to afford the defendant notice and an opportunity to be heard before the court may revoke 20
the defendant’s bail and remand the defendant into custody. See also Tijerina v. Baker, 1968-21
NMSC-009, ¶ 9, 78 N.M. 770, 438 P.2d 514 (explaining that the right to bail is not absolute); id. 22
¶ 10 (“If the court has inherent power to revoke bail of a defendant during trial and pending final 23
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disposition of the criminal case in order to prevent interference with witnesses or the proper 1
administration of justice, the right to do so before trial seems to be equally apparent under a proper 2
set of facts.”); State v. Rivera, 2003-NMCA-059, ¶ 20, 133 N.M. 571, 66 P.3d 344 (“Conditions 3
of release are separate, coercive powers of a court, apart from the bond itself. They are enforceable 4
by immediate arrest, revocation, or modification if violated. Such condition s of release are 5
intended to protect the public and keep the defendant in line.”), rev’d on other grounds, 2004-6
NMSC-001, 134 N.M. 768, 82 P.3d 939. 7
[As used in Paragraph D, a “local detention center” is “one that is commonly used by the 8
magistrate court i n the normal course of business and not necessarily within the territorial 9
jurisdiction of the court.” Rule 6-401(A)(3) NMRA.] 10
Paragraph [G] F provides that the New Mexico Rules of Evidence do not apply at a 11
revocation hearing, consistent with Rule 11- 1101(D)(3)(e) NMRA. As with courts in other types 12
of proceedings in which the Rules of Evidence do not apply, a court presiding over a pretrial 13
detention hearing is responsible “for assessing the reliability and accuracy” of the information 14
presented. See United States v. Martir, 782 F.2d 1141, 1145 (2d Cir. 1986) (explaining that in a 15
pretrial detention hearing the judge “retains the responsibility for assessing the reliability and 16
accuracy of the government’s information, whether presented by proffer or by direct proof”); State 17
v. Ingram, 155 A.3d 597 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2017) (holding that it is within the discretion 18
of the detention hearing court to determine whether a pretrial detention order may be supported in 19
an individual case by documentary evidence, proffer, one or more live witnesses, or other forms 20
of information the court deems sufficient); see also United States v. Marshall, 519 F. Supp. 751, 21
754 (E.D. Wis. 1981) (“So long as the information which the sentencing judge considers has 22
sufficient indicia of reliability to support its probable accuracy, the information may properly be 23
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taken into account in passing sentence.”), aff’d, 719 F.2d 887 (7th Cir. 1983); State v. 1
Guthrie, 2011-NMSC-014, ¶¶ 36- 39, 43, 150 N.M. 84, 257 P.3d 904 (explaining that in a 2
probation revocation hearing, the court should focus on the reliability of the evidence); State v. 3
Vigil, 1982-NMCA-058, ¶ 24, 97 N.M. 749, 643 P.2d 618 (holding in a probation revocation 4
hearing that hearsay untested for accuracy or reliability lacked probative value). 5
Paragraph [I] H requires the magistrate court to prioritize the scheduling of trial and other 6
proceedings for cases in which the defendant is held in custody. See generally United States v. 7
Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 747 (1987) (concluding that the detention provisions in the Bail Reform 8
Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3142, did not violate due process, in part because of “the stringent time limitations 9
of the Speedy Trial Act,” 18 U.S.C. § 3161); Am. Bar Ass’n, ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: 10
Pretrial Release, Standard 10-5.11 (3d ed. 2007) (“Every jurisdiction should establish, by statute 11
or court rule, accelerated time limitations within which detained defendants should be tried 12
consistent with the sound administration of justice.”). This rule does not preclude earlier or more 13
regular status review hearings. The purpose of the hearing is to determine how best to expedite a 14
trial in the case. A meaningful review of the progress of the case includes assessment of the parties’ 15
compliance with applic able deadlines, satisfaction of discovery obligations, and witness 16
availability, among other matters. If the court determines that the parties have made insufficient 17
progress on these measures, then it shall issue an appropriate scheduling order. 18
[Adopted by Supreme Court Order No. 17-8300-005, effective for all cases pending or filed on or 19
after July 1, 2017; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 22- 8300-015, effective for all cases 20
pending or filed on or after December 31, 2022; as amended by Supreme Cour t Order No. S -1-21
RCR-2023-00021, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after December 31, 2023; as 22
MAGISTRATE COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
RULE 6-403 July 29, 2025
1 provisionally amended by Supreme Court Order No. S-1-AO-2025-00013, effective for all cases
2 pending or filed on or after July 29, 2025.]
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7-401. Pretrial release. 1
A. Hearing. 2
(1) Time. The court shall conduct a hearing under this rule and issue an order 3
setting conditions of release as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 4
(a) if the defendant remains in custody, three (3) days after the date of 5
arrest if the defendant is being held in the local detention center, or five (5) days after the date of 6
arrest if the defendant is not being held in the local detention center; 7
(b) first appearance or arraignment, if the defendant is not in custody; 8
or 9
(c) if the defendant remains in custody pending a hearing under Rule 7-10
403(D) NMRA, then within three (3) days after a temporary detention order is placed or the date 11
of the [initial] hearing conducted under Rule 7-403 NMRA if the defendant is being held in the 12
local detention center, or five (5) days after the date of the [initial] hearing conducted under Rule 7-13
403 NMRA if the defendant is not being held in the local detention center. 14
(2) Right to counsel. If the defendant does not have counsel at the initial release 15
conditions hearing and is not ordered released at the hearing, the matter shall be continued for no 16
longer than three (3) additional days for a further hearing to review conditions of release, at which 17
the defendant shall have the right to assistance of retained or appointed counsel. 18
(3) Local detention center; defined. A “local detention center” is one that is 19
commonly used by the metropolitan court in the normal course of business and not necessarily 20
within the territorial jurisdiction of the court. 21
B. Right to pretrial release; recognizance or unsecured appearance bond. Any 22
defendant eligible for pretrial release under Article II, Section 13 o f the New Mexico 23
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
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Constitution shall be ordered released pending trial on the defendant’s personal recognizance or 1
on the execution of an unsecured appearance bond in an amount set by the court. The court may 2
impose non-monetary conditions of release under Paragraph D of this rule, but the court shall 3
impose the least restrictive condition or combination of conditions that will reasonably ensure the 4
appearance of the defendant as required and the safety of any other person or the community. The 5
court may order execution of a secured appearance bond only if the court makes written findings 6
of particularized reasons why the release will not reasonably ensure the appearance of the 7
defendant as required under Paragraphs E and F of this rule. 8
C. Factors to be cons idered in determining conditions of release. In determining 9
the least restrictive conditions of release that will reasonably ensure the appearance of the 10
defendant as required and the safety of any other person and the community, the court shall 11
consider any available results of a pretrial risk assessment instrument approved by the Supreme 12
Court for use in the jurisdiction and the financial resources of the defendant. In addition, the court 13
may take into account the available information about 14
(1) the nature and circumstances of the offense charged, including whether the 15
offense is a crime of violence or involves alcohol or drugs; 16
(2) the weight of the evidence against the defendant; 17
(3) the history and characteristics of the defendant, including 18
(a) the defendant’s character, physical and mental condition, family 19
ties, employment, past and present residences, length of residence in the community, community 20
ties, past conduct, history relating to drug or alcohol abuse, criminal history, and record about 21
appearance at court proceedings; and 22
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
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1 (b) whether, at the time of the current offense or arrest, the defendant
2 was on probation, on parole, or on other release pending trial, sentencing, or appeal for any offense
3 under federal, state, or local law;
4 (4) the nature and seriousness of the danger to any person or the community
5 that would be posed by the defendant’s release;
6 (5) any other facts tending to indicate the defendant may or may not be likely
7 to appear as required; and
8 (6) any other facts tending to indicate the defendant may or may not commit
9 new crimes if released.
10 D. Non-monetary conditions of release. In its order setting conditions of release, the
11 court shall impose a standard condition that the defendant not commit a federal, state, or local
12 crime during the period of release. The court may also impose the least restrictive particularized
13 condition, or combination of particularized conditions, that the court finds will reasonably ensure
14 the appearance of the defendant as required, the safety of any other person and the community,
15 and the orderly administration of justice, which may include the condition that the defendant
16 (1) remain in the custody of a designated person who agrees to assume
17 supervision and to report any violation of a release condition to the court, if the designated person
18 is able reasonably to assure the court that the defendant will appear as required and will not pose
19 a danger to the safety of any other person or the community;
20 (2) maintain employment, or, if unemployed, actively seek employment;
21 (3) maintain or commence an educational program;
22 (4) abide by specified restrictions on personal associations, place of abode, or
23 travel;
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(5) avoid all contact with an alleged vi ctim of the crime or with a potential 1
witness who may testify about the offense; 2
(6) report on a regular basis to a designated pretrial services agency or other 3
agency agreeing to supervise the defendant; 4
(7) comply with a specified curfew; 5
(8) refrain from possessing a firearm, destructive device, or other dangerous 6
weapon; 7
(9) from any use of alcohol or any use of an illegal drug or other controlled 8
substance without a prescription by a licensed medical practitioner; 9
(10) refrain from any use of cannabis, cannabis products, or synthetic 10
cannabinoids without a certification from a licensed medical practitioner; 11
(11) submit to a drug test or an alcohol test on request of a person designated by 12
the court; 13
(12) return to cus tody for specified hours after release for employment, 14
schooling, or other limited purposes; and 15
(13) satisfy any other condition that is reasonably necessary to ensure the 16
appearance of the defendant as required and the safety of any other person and the community. 17
E. Secured bond. If the court makes written findings of the particularized reasons 18
why release on personal recognizance or unsecured appearance bond, in addition to any non-19
monetary conditions of release, will not reasonably ensure the appea rance of the defendant as 20
required, the court may require a secured bond for the defendant’s release. 21
(1) Factors to be considered in setting secured bond. 22
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(a) In determining whether any secured bond is necessary, the court 1
may consider any facts tending to indicate that the particular defendant may or may not be likely 2
to appear as required. 3
(b) The court shall set secured bond at the lowest amount necessary to 4
reasonably ensure the defendant’s appearance and with regard to the defendant’s financial ability 5
to secure a bond. 6
(c) The court shall not set a secured bond that a defendant cannot afford 7
for the purpose of detaining a defendant who is otherwise eligible for pretrial release. 8
(d) Secured bond shall not be set by reference to a predetermined 9
schedule of monetary amounts fixed according to the nature of the charge. 10
(2) Types of secured bond. If a secured bond is determined necessary in a 11
particular case, the court shall impose the first of the following types of secured bond that will 12
reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant. 13
(a) Percentage bond. The court may require a secured appearance bond 14
executed by the defendant in the full amount specified in the order setting conditions of release, 15
secured by a deposit in cash of ten perc ent (10%) of the amount specified. The deposit may be 16
returned as provided in Paragraph L of this rule. 17
(b) Property bond. The court may require the execution of a property 18
bond by the defendant or by unpaid sureties in the full amount specified in the order setting 19
conditions of release, secured by the pledging of real property in accordance with Rule 7-20
401.1 NMRA. 21
(c) Cash or surety bond. The court may give the defendant the option 22
of either 23
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
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1 (i) a secured appearance bond executed by the defendant in the
2 full amount specified in the order setting conditions of release, secured by a deposit in cash of one
3 hundred percent (100%) of the amount specified, which may be returned as provided in Paragraph
4 L of this rule, or
5 (ii) a surety bond executed by licensed sureties in accordance
6 with Rule 7-401.2 NMRA for one hundred percent (100%) of the full amount specified in the order
7 setting conditions of release.
8 F. Order setting conditions of release; findings about secured bond.
9 (1) Contents of order setting conditions of release. The written order setting
10 conditions of release shall be provided to the defendant before release if the defendant is in custody
11 or within three (3) days of the conditions of release hearing if the defendant is not in custody, and
12 (a) include a written statement that sets forth all the conditions to which
13 the release is subject, in a manner sufficiently clear and specific to serve as a guide for the
14 defendant’s conduct; and
15 (b) advise the defendant of
16 (i) the penalties for violating a condition of release, including
17 the penalties for committing an offense while on pretrial release;
18 (ii) the consequences for violating a condition of release,
19 including the immediate issuance of a warrant for the defendant’s arrest, revocation of pretrial
20 release, and forfeiture of bond; and
21 (iii) the consequences of intimidating a witness, victim, or
22 informant, or otherwise obstructing justice.
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(2) Written findings about secured bond. The court shall file w ritten findings 1
of the individualized facts justifying a secured bond as soon as possible, but no later than two (2) 2
days after the conclusion of the hearing. 3
G. Pretrial detention. If the prosecutor files a motion for pretrial detention, the court 4
shall follow the procedures set forth in Rule 7-409 NMRA. 5
H. Review of conditions of release by the metropolitan court. 6
(1) Review. If the metropolitan court requires a secured bond for the 7
defendant’s release under Paragraph E of this rule or imposes non-monetary conditions of release 8
under Paragraph D of this rule, and the defendant remains in custody twenty-four (24) hours after 9
the issuance of the order setting conditions of release as a result of the defendant’s inability to post 10
the secured bond or mee t the conditions of release in the present case, the defendant shall be 11
entitled to a hearing to review the conditions of release. 12
(2) Review hearing. The metropolitan court shall hold a hearing in an expedited 13
manner, but in no event later than five (5) days after the initial conditions of release hearing. The 14
defendant shall have the right to assistance of retained or appointed counsel at the hearing. Unless 15
the order setting conditions of release is amended and the defendant is then released, the court shall 16
file a written order setting forth the reasons for declining to amend the order setting conditions of 17
release. The court shall consider the defendant’s financial ability to secure a bond. No defendant 18
eligible for pretrial release under Article II, Section 13 of the New Mexico Constitution shall be 19
detained solely because of financial inability to post a secured bond unless the court determines 20
by clear and convincing evidence and makes findings of the reasons why the amount of secured 21
bond requi red by the court is reasonably necessary to ensure the appearance of the particular 22
defendant as required. The court shall file written findings of the individualized facts justifying 23
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
RULE 7-401 July 29, 2025
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the secured bond as soon as possible, but no later than two (2) days aft er the conclusion of the 1
hearing. 2
(3) Work or school release. A defendant who is ordered released on a condition 3
that requires that the defendant return to custody after specified hours shall, on motion of the 4
defendant or the court’s own motion, be entitled to a hearing to review the conditions imposed. 5
Unless the requirement is removed and the defendant is released on another condition, the court 6
shall file a written order setting forth the reason for the continuation of the requirement. A hearing 7
to review conditions of release under this subparagraph shall be held by the metropolitan court 8
within five (5) days of the filing of the motion. The defendant shall have the right to assistance of 9
retained or appointed counsel at the hearing. 10
(4) Subsequent motion for review. The defendant may file subsequent motions 11
for review of the order setting conditions of release, but the court may rule on subsequent motions 12
with or without a hearing. 13
I. Amendment of conditions. The court may amend its order se tting conditions of 14
release at any time. If the amendment of the order may result in the detention of the defendant or 15
in more restrictive conditions of release, the court shall not amend the order without a hearing. If 16
the court is considering revocation of the defendant’s pretrial release or modification of the 17
defendant’s conditions of release for violating a condition of release, the court shall follow the 18
procedures set forth in Rule 7-403 NMRA. 19
J. Petition to district court. 20
(1) Case within metr opolitan court trial jurisdiction. A defendant charged 21
with an offense that is within metropolitan court trial jurisdiction may file a petition in the district 22
court for review of the metropolitan court’s order setting conditions of release under this paragraph 23
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
RULE 7-401 July 29, 2025
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only after the metropolitan court has reviewed the conditions of release and made a requisite ruling 1
under Paragraph H of this rule. The defendant shall attach to the district court petition a copy of 2
the metropolitan court order after the review of the conditions of release. 3
(2) Felony case. A defendant charged with a felony offense who has not been 4
bound over to the district court may file a petition in the district court for release under Rule 5-5
401(K) NMRA and this paragraph at any time after the defendant’s arrest. 6
(3) Petition; requirements. A petition to the district court under this paragraph 7
shall include the specific facts that warrant review by the district court and may include a request 8
for a hearing. The petitioner shall promptly 9
(a) file a copy of the district court petition in the metropolitan court, 10
(b) serve a copy on the district attorney, and 11
(c) provide a copy to the assigned district court judge. 12
(4) Metropolitan court’s jurisdiction pending determination of the 13
petition. On the filing of a petition under this paragraph, the metropolitan court’s jurisdiction to 14
set or amend the conditions of release shall be suspended pending determination of the petition by 15
the district court. The metropolitan court shall retain jurisdiction over all other aspects of the case, 16
and the case shall proceed in the metropolitan court while the district court petition is pending. The 17
metropolitan court’s order setting conditions of release shall remain in effect unless and until the 18
district court issues an order amending the conditions of release. 19
(5) District court review. The district court shall rule on the petition in an 20
expedited manner. Within three (3) days after the petition is filed, the district court shall take one 21
of the following actions: 22
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(a) set a hearing no later than ten (10) days after the filing of the petition 1
and promptly send a copy of the notice to the metropolitan court; 2
(b) deny the petition summarily; or 3
(c) amend the order setting conditions of release without a hearing. 4
(6) District court order; transmission to metropolitan court. The district court 5
shall promptly send to the metropolitan court a copy of the district court order disposing of the 6
petition, and jurisdiction over the conditions of release shall revert to the metropolitan court. 7
K. Expedited trial scheduling for defendant in custody. The metropolitan court 8
shall provide expedited priority scheduling in a case in which the defendant is detained as a result 9
of inability to post a secured bond or meet the conditions of release. The court shall hold a status 10
review hearing in any case in which the defendant has been held for more than sixty (60) days. 11
The purpose of the status review hearing is to conduct a meaningful review of the progress of the 12
case. If the court determines that insufficient progress has been made, then the court shall issue an 13
appropriate scheduling order. 14
L. Return of cash deposit. If a defendant has been released by executing a secured 15
appearance bond and depositing a cash deposit under Paragraph E of this rule, when the conditions 16
of the appearance bond have been performed and the defendant’s case has been adjudicated by the 17
court, the clerk shall return the sum that has been deposited to the person who deposited the s um, 18
or that person’s personal representatives or assigns. 19
M. Release from custody by designee. The chief judge of the metropolitan court may 20
designate by written court order responsible persons to implement the pretrial release procedures 21
set forth in Rule 7-408 NMRA. A designee shall release a defendant from custody before the 22
defendant’s first appearance before a judge if the defendant is eligible for pretrial release under 23
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Rule 7-408 NMRA, but may contact a judge for special consideration based on except ional 1
circumstances. No person shall be qualified to serve as a designee if the person or the person’s 2
spouse is related within the second degree of blood or marriage to a paid surety who is licensed to 3
sell property or corporate bonds within this state. 4
N. Bind over to district court. For any case that is not within metropolitan court trial 5
jurisdiction, on notice to the metropolitan court, any bond shall be transferred to the district court 6
on the filing of an information or indictment in the district court. 7
O. Evidence. Information offered in connection with or stated in any proceeding held 8
or order entered under this rule need not conform to the New Mexico Rules of Evidence. 9
P. Forms. Instruments required by this rule, including any order setting conditions of 10
release, appearance bond, property bond, or surety bond, shall be substantially in the form 11
approved by the Supreme Court. 12
Q. Judicial discretion; disqualification and excusal. Action by any court on any 13
matter relating to pretrial release shall not preclude the subsequent statutory disqualification of a 14
judge. A judge may not be excused from setting initial conditions of release unless the judge is 15
required to recuse under the provisions of the New Mexico Constitution or the Code of Judicial 16
Conduct. 17
[As amended, effective August 1, 1987; October 1, 1987; September 1, 1990; December 1, 1990; 18
as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 08- 8300-059, effective February 2, 2009; as amended 19
by Supreme Court Order No. 17-8300-005, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after July 20
1, 2017; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 22-8300-015, effective for all cases pending or 21
filed on or after December 31, 2022; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. S -1-RCR-2023-22
00021, effective for all cases pending or file d on or after December 31, 2023; as amended by 23
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
RULE 7-401 July 29, 2025
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Supreme Court Order No. S-1-RCR-2024-00068, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after 1
May 8, 2024; as provisionally amended by Supreme Court Order No. S -1-AO-2025-00013, 2
effective for all cases pending or filed on or after July 29, 2025.] 3
Committee commentary. — This rule provides “the mechanism through which a person 4
may effectuate the right to pretrial release afforded by Article II, Section 13 of the New Mexico 5
Constitution.” State v. Brown, 2014-NMSC-038, ¶ 37, 338 P.3d 1276. In 2016, Article II, Section 6
13 was amended (1) to permit a court of record to order the detention of a felony defendant pending 7
trial if the prosecutor proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant poses a danger 8
to the safety of any other person or the community and that no release condition or combination 9
of conditions will reasonably ensure the safety of any other person or the community, and (2) to 10
require the pretrial release of a defendant who is in custody solely because of financial inability to 11
post a secured bond. This rule was derived from the federal statute governing the release or 12
detention of a defendant pending trial. See 18 U.S.C. § 3142. This rule was amended in 2017 to 13
implement the 2016 am endment to Article II, Section 13 and the Supreme Court’s holding 14
in Brown, 2014-NMSC-038. Corresponding rules are located in the Rules of Criminal Procedure 15
for the District Courts, see Rule 5-401 NMRA, the Rules of Criminal Procedure for the Magistrate 16
Courts, see Rule 6-401 NMRA, and the Rules of Procedure for the Municipal Courts, see Rule 8-17
401 NMRA. 18
Time periods specified in this rule are computed in accordance with Rule 7-104 NMRA. 19
Just as assistance of counsel is required at a detention hearing unde r Rule 5-409 NMRA 20
that may result in a denial of pretrial release based on dangerousness, Subparagraphs (A)(2), 21
(H)(2), and (H)(3) of this rule provide that assistance of counsel is required in a proceeding that 22
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
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may result in denial of pretrial release bas ed on reasons that do not involve dangerousness, such 1
as a simple inability to meet a financial condition. 2
As set forth in Paragraph B, a defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance or 3
unsecured bond unless the court determines that the relea se, in addition to any non- monetary 4
conditions of release under Paragraph D, will not reasonably ensure the appearance of the 5
defendant and the safety of any other person or the community. 6
Paragraph C lists the factors the court should consider when determ ining conditions of 7
release. In all cases, the court is required to consider any available results of a pretrial risk 8
assessment instrument approved by the Supreme Court for use in the jurisdiction and the financial 9
resources of the defendant. 10
Paragraph D lists various non-monetary conditions of release. The court must impose the 11
least restrictive condition, or combination of conditions, that will reasonably ensure the appearance 12
of the defendant as required and the safety of any other person and the community. See 13
Brown, 2014-NMSC-038, ¶¶ 1, 37, 39. If the defendant has previously been released on standard 14
conditions before a court appearance, the judge should review the conditions at the defendant’s 15
first appearance to determine whether any particularized conditions should be imposed under the 16
circumstances of the case. Paragraph D also permits the court to impose non-monetary conditions 17
of release to ensure the orderly administration of justice. This provision was derived from the 18
American Bar Association, ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: Pretrial Release, Standard 10-19
5.2 (3d ed. 2007). Some conditions of release may have a cost associated with the condition. The 20
court should make a determination about whether the defendant can afford to pay all or a par t of 21
the cost, or whether the court has the authority to waive the cost, because detaining a defendant 22
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because of inability to pay the cost associated with a condition of release is comparable to detaining 1
a defendant because of financial inability to post a secured bond. 2
As set forth in Paragraph E, the only purpose for which the court may impose a secured 3
bond is to ensure that the defendant will appear for trial and other pretrial proceedings for which 4
the defendant must be present. See State v. Erickson s, 1987-NMSC-108, ¶ 6, 106 N.M. 567, 746 5
P.2d 1099 (“[T]he purpose of bail is to secure the defendant’s attendance to submit to the 6
punishment to be imposed by the court.”); see also NMSA 1978, § 31- 3-2(B)(2) (1993) 7
(authorizing the forfeiture of bond on the defendant’s failure to appear). 8
The 2017 amendments to this rule clarify that the amount of secured bond must not be 9
based on a bond schedule, i.e., a predetermined schedule of monetary amounts fixed according to 10
the nature of the charge. Instead, the c ourt must consider the individual defendant’s financial 11
resources and must set secured bond at the lowest amount that will reasonably ensure the 12
defendant’s appearance in court after the defendant is released. 13
Secured bond cannot be used for the purpose of detaining a defendant who may pose a 14
danger to the safety of any other person or the community. See Brown, 2014-NMSC-038, ¶ 53 15
(“Neither the New Mexico Constitution nor our rules of criminal procedure permit a judge to set 16
high bail for the purpose of pre venting a defendant’s pretrial release.”); see also Stack v. Boyle, 17
342 U.S. 1, 5 (1951) (stating that secured bond set higher than the amount reasonably calculated 18
to ensure the defendant’s appearance in court “is ‘excessive’ under the Eighth Amendment”). A 19
felony defendant who poses a danger that cannot be mitigated through the imposition of non-20
monetary conditions of release under Paragraph D of this rule should be detained under Article II, 21
Section 13 of the New Mexico Constitution and Rule 5-409 NMRA. 22
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The court should consider the authorized types of secured bonds in the order of priority set 1
forth in Paragraph E. The court must first consider requiring an appearance bond secured by a cash 2
deposit of ten percent (10%). No other percentage is permitted under the rule. If a cash deposit of 3
ten percent (10%) is inadequate, the court then must consider a property bond involving property 4
that belongs to the defendant or other unpaid surety. If neither of these options is sufficient to 5
reasonably ensure the defendant’s appearance, the court may require a cash or surety bond for the 6
defendant’s release. If the court requires a cash or surety bond, the defendant has the option either 7
to execute an appearance bond and deposit one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of the bond 8
with the court or to purchase a bond from a paid surety. Under Subparagraph (E)(2)(c), the 9
defendant alone has the choice to post the bond by a one hundred percent (100%) cash deposit or 10
a surety. The court does not have the option to set a cash-only bond or a surety-only bond; it must 11
give the defendant the choice of either. A paid surety may execute a surety bond or a real or 12
personal property bond only if the conditions of Rule 7-401.2 NMRA are met. 13
Paragraph F governs the contents of an order setting conditions of release. See Form 9-14
303 NMRA (order setting conditions of release). Although pretrial release hearings are not 15
required to be a matter of record in the metropolitan court, Paragraph F requires the court to make 16
written findings justifying the imposition of a secured bond. Judges are encouraged to enter their 17
written findings on the order setting conditions of release at the conclusion of the hearing. If more 18
detailed findings are necessary, the judge should make any supplemental f indings in a separate 19
document within two (2) days of the conclusion of the hearing. 20
Paragraph G addresses pretrial detention of a dangerous defendant under Article II, Section 21
13 of the New Mexico Constitution. If the defendant poses a danger to the safet y of any other 22
person or the community that cannot be addressed through the imposition of non- monetary 23
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
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conditions of release, the prosecutor may file a motion for pretrial detention. If the prosecutor files 1
a motion for pretrial detention, the metropolitan court must follow the procedures set forth in 2
Rule 7-409 NMRA. 3
Paragraph H sets forth the procedure for review of the defendant’s conditions of release in 4
the metropolitan court. Paragraph J sets forth the procedure for the defendant to petition the district 5
court for release or for review of the conditions of release set by the metropolitan court. Article II, 6
Section 13 of the New Mexico Constitution requires the court to rule on a motion or petition for 7
pretrial release “in an expedited manner” and to release a defendant who is being held solely 8
because of financial inability to post a secured bond. A defendant who wishes to present financial 9
information to a court to support a motion or a petition for pretrial release may present Form 9-10
301A NMRA (pretrial release financial affidavit) to the court. The defendant shall be entitled to 11
appear and participate personally with counsel before the judge conducting any hearing to review 12
the conditions of release, rather than by any means of remote electronic conferencing. 13
Paragraph K requires the metropolitan court to prioritize the scheduling of trial and other 14
proceedings for cases in which the defendant is held in custody because of inability to post bond 15
or meet the conditions of release. See generally United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 747 (1987) 16
(concluding that the detention provisions in the Bail Reform Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3142, did not violate 17
due process, in part because of “the stringent time limitations of the Speedy Trial Act,” 18 U.S.C. 18
§ 3161); Am. Bar Ass’n, ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: Pretrial Release, Standard 10-5.11 19
(3d ed. 2007) (“Every jurisdiction should establish, by statute or court rule, accelerated time limits 20
within which detained defendants should be tried consistent with the so und administration of 21
justice.”). This rule does not preclude earlier or more regular status review hearings. The purpose 22
of the hearing is to determine how best to expedite a trial in the case. A meaningful review of the 23
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
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progress of the case includes assessment of the parties’ compliance with applicable deadlines, 1
satisfaction of discovery obligations, and witness availability, among other matters. If the court 2
determines that the parties have made insufficient progress on these measures, then it shall iss ue 3
an appropriate scheduling order. 4
Under NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-1 (1972), the court may appoint a designee to carry out 5
the provisions of this rule. As set forth in Paragraph M, a designee must be designated by the chief 6
metropolitan court judge in a written court order. A person may not be appointed as a designee if 7
that person is related within the second degree of blood or marriage to a paid surety licensed in 8
this state to execute bail bonds. A jailer may be appointed as a designee. Paragraph M and Rule 7-9
408 NMRA govern the limited circumstances under which a designee shall release an arrested 10
defendant from custody before that defendant’s first appearance before a judge. 11
Paragraph N requires the metropolitan court to transfer any bond to the district court on 12
notice from the district attorney that an information or indictment has been filed. See Rule 7-13
202(E)-(F) NMRA (requiring the district attorney to notify the metropolitan court of the filing of 14
an information or indictment in the district court). 15
Paragraph O of this rule dovetails with Rule 11- 1101(D)(3)(e) NMRA. Both provide that 16
the Rules of Evidence do not apply to proceedings in the metropolitan court with respect to matters 17
of pretrial release. As with courts in other types of proceedings in which the Rules of Evidence do 18
not apply, a court presiding over a pretrial release hearing is responsible “for assessing the 19
reliability and accuracy” of the information presented. See United States v. Martir, 782 F.2d 1141, 20
1145 (2d Cir. 1986) (explaining that in a pretrial detention hearing the judge “retains the 21
responsibility for assessing the reliability and accuracy of the government’s information, whether 22
presented by proffer or by direct proof”); see also United States v. Marshall, 519 F. Supp. 751, 23
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
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754 (E.D. Wis. 1981) (“So long as the information which the sentencing judge considers has 1
sufficient indicia of reliability to support its probable accuracy, the information may properly be 2
taken into account in passing sentence.”), aff’d, 719 F.2d 887 (7th Cir. 1983); State v. 3
Guthrie, 2011-NMSC-014, ¶¶ 36- 39, 43, 150 N.M. 84, 257 P.3d 904 (explaining that in a 4
probation revocation hearing, the court should focus on the reliability of the evidence). 5
Consistent with Rule 7-106 NMRA, a party cannot exercise the statutory right to excuse a 6
judge who is setting initial conditions of release. See NMSA 1978, § 35-3-7 (1983). Paragraph Q 7
of this rule does not prevent a judge from filing a recusal either on the court’s own motion or 8
motion of a party. See N.M. Const. art. VI, § 18; Rule 21-211 NMRA. 9
[Adopted by Supreme Court Order No. 08- 8300-059, effective February 2, 2009; as amended by 10
Supreme Court Order No. 17-8300-005, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after July 1, 11
2017; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 22- 8300-015, effective for all cases pending or 12
filed on or after December 31, 2022; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. S -1-RCR-2024-13
00068, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after May 8, 2024.] 14
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
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7-403. Revocation or modification of release orders. 1
A. Scope. In accordance with this rule, the court may consider revocation of the 2
defendant’s pretrial release or modification of the defendant’s conditions of release 3
(1) if the defendant is alleged to have violated a condition of release; or 4
(2) to prevent interference with witnesses or the proper administration of 5
justice. 6
B. Revocation or modification of conditions of release. 7
(1) The court shall consider revocation of the defendant’s pretrial release or 8
modification of the defendant’s conditions of release on motion of the prosecutor, on notice of a 9
non-technical violation of a condition of release by a court pretr ial services agency, or on the 10
court’s own motion. 11
(2) The defendant may file a response to the motion, but the filing of a response 12
shall not delay any hearing under Paragraph D [or E] of this rule. 13
C. Issuance of summons or bench warrant; temporary detention of certain 14
defendants. 15
(1) On motion or notice of a non-technical violation of a condition of release by 16
a court pretrial services agency, the court shall enter an order with specific findings about why 17
amended or revoked conditions of release are unnecessary, or the court shall issue a summons and 18
notice of hearing, unless the court finds that the interests of justice may be better served by the 19
issuance of a bench warrant. The summons or bench warrant shall include notice of the reasons 20
for the review of the pretrial release decision. 21
(2) A defendant previously released by any court in this state pending any 22
felony charge or pending a charge for an enumerated misdemeanor, who is arrested and charged 23
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
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with a new felony or new enumerated misdemeanor defined in Rule 5-403.1 NMRA alleged to 1
have occurred during the period of initial release, shall be held without conditions of release 2
pending [an initial] a hearing pursuant to Paragraph D of this rule. The [initial] hearing required 3
by Paragraph D shall be conducted by the court with current jurisdiction over the defendant’s 4
initial conditions of release. 5
(3) A defendant previously released by any court in this state pending any 6
felony charge or pending a charge for an enumerated misd emeanor defined in Rule 5-7
403.1 NMRA, who is charged but not arrested for a new felony or new enumerated misdemeanor 8
alleged to have occurred during the period of initial release, shall be summonsed by the court with 9
current jurisdiction over the defendant’s initial conditions of release to [an initial] a hearing 10
required by Paragraph D of this rule, unless the court finds that the interests of justice may be 11
better served by the issuance of a bench warrant. The [initial] hearing required by Paragraph D 12
shall be conducted by the court with current jurisdiction over the defendant’s initial conditions of 13
release. 14
[D. Initial hearing. 15
(1) The court shall hold an initial hearing as soon as practicable. If the defendant 16
is in custody, the hearing shall be held no later than three (3) days after the defendant is detained 17
if the defendant is being held in the local detention center, or no later than five (5) days after the 18
defendant is detained if the defendant is not being held in the local detention center. If the 19
defendant is not in custody, the hearing shall be held no later than ten (10) days after the motion 20
or notice of alleged violation is filed. 21
(2) At the initial hearing, the court may continue the existing conditions of 22
release, set different conditions of release, or if the court is considering revocation of release, the 23
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
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court shall schedule an evidentiary hearing under Paragraph E of this rule, unless waived by the 1
defendant. 2
(3) If at the conclusion of the initial hearing, the court continues or amends the 3
defendant’s conditions of release, then a written order continuing or amending the defendant’s 4
conditions of release shall be provided to the defendant at the time of release from custody if the 5
defendant is in custody, or within three (3) days of the hearing if the defendant is not in custody. 6
If the defendant waives the evidentiary hearing under Paragraph E and the court finds that the 7
conditions of release should be revoked, an order revoking conditions of release, including written 8
findings of the individualized facts justifying revocation, shall be filed within three (3) days of the 9
initial hearing.] 10
[E.] D. [Evidentiary hearing] Hearing on alleged violation. 11
(1) Time. [The evidentiary] A hearing shall be held as soon as practicable. If 12
the defendant is in custody, the [evidentiary] hearing shall be held no later than [seven (7)] five (5) 13
days after the [initial hearing] defendant is detained. If the defendant is not in custody, the 14
[evidentiary] hearing shall be held no later than ten (10) days after the [initial hearing] motion or 15
notice of alleged violation is filed. 16
(2) At the hearing, the court may continue the existing conditions of release, set 17
different conditions of release, or if the court is considering revocation of release, the court shall 18
conduct an evidentiary hearing, unless waived by the defendant. 19
[(2)] (3) Defendant’s rights. The defendant has the right to be present and to be 20
represented by counsel and, if financial ly unable to obtain counsel, to have counsel appointed. 21
[The] If the court is considering revocation of release and an evidentiary hearing is conducted, the 22
defendant shall be afforded an opportunity to testify, to present witnesses, to compel the attendance 23
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
RULE 7-403 July 29, 2025
RCR No. S-1-RCR-2025-00150 4
of witnesses, to cross-examine witnesses who appear at the hearing, and to present information by 1
proffer or otherwise. If the defendant testifies at the hearing, the defendant’s testimony shall not 2
be used against the defendant at trial except for impeachment purposes or in a subsequent 3
prosecution for perjury. 4
[F.] E. Order at completion of [evidentiary] hearing. 5
(1) If at the conclusion of the hearing, the court continues or amends the 6
defendant’s conditions of release, then a written order continuing or amending the defendant’s 7
conditions of release shall be provided to the defendant at the time of the release from custody if 8
the defendant is in custody, or within three (3) days of the hearing if the defendant is not in custody. 9
(2) If the defendant waives an evidentiary hearing and the court finds that the 10
conditions of release should be revoked, an order revoking conditions of release, including written 11
findings of the individualized facts justifying revocation, shall be filed within three (3) days of the 12
hearing. 13
(3) If an evidentiary hearing is conducted, at [At] the completion of [an] the 14
evidentiary hearing, the court shall determine whether the defendant has violated a condition of 15
release or whether revocation of the defendant’s releas e is necessary to prevent interference with 16
witnesses or the proper administration of justice, and may: 17
[(1)] (a) continue the existing conditions of release; 18
[(2)] (b) set new or additional conditions of release in accordance with 19
Rule 7-401 NMRA; or 20
[(3)] (c) revoke the defendant’s release, if the court 21
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[(a)] (i) finds either probable cause to believe that the defendant 1
committed a federal, state, or local crime while on release, or clear and convincing evidence that 2
the defendant has willfully violated any other condition of release; and 3
[(i) probable cause to believe that the defendant committed a 4
federal, state, or local crime while on release; or 5
(ii) clear and convincing evidence that the defendant has 6
willfully violated any other condition of release; and] 7
[(b)] (ii) finds clear and convincing evidence that either no condition 8
or combination of conditions will reasonably ensure the defendant’s compliance with the release 9
conditions ordered by the court, or revocation o f the defendant’s release is necessary to prevent 10
interference with witnesses or the proper administration of justice. 11
[(i) no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably 12
ensure the defendant’s compliance with the release conditions ordered by the court; or 13
(ii) revocation of the defendant’s release is necessary to prevent 14
interference with witnesses or the proper administration of justice.] 15
(4) [An] If the court revokes conditions of release after an evidentiary hearing, 16
an order revoking release shall include written findings of the individualized facts justifying 17
revocation and shall be filed within three (3) days of the evidentiary hearing. 18
(5) If the court continues or amends the defendant’s conditions of release after 19
an evidentiary hearing, then a written order continuing or amending the defendant’s conditions of 20
release shall be provided to the defendant at the time of release from custody if the defendant is in 21
custody, or within three (3) days of the hearing if the defendant is not in custody. 22
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
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[G.] F. Evidence. The New Mexico Rules of Evidence shall not apply to the presentation 1
and consideration of information at [any] a hearing under this rule. 2
[H.] G. Review of conditions. If the metropolitan court enters an ord er setting new or 3
additional conditions of release and the defendant is detained or continues to be detained because 4
of a failure to meet a condition imposed, or is subject to a requirement to return to custody after 5
specified hours, the defendant may petition the district court for review in accordance with Rule 7-6
401(J) NMRA. The defendant may petition the district court immediately on the issuance of the 7
metropolitan court order and shall not be required to first seek review or reconsideration by the 8
metropolitan court. If, on disposition of the petition by the district court, the defendant is detained 9
or continues to be detained because of a failure to meet a condition imposed, or is subject to a 10
requirement to return to custody after specified hours, the defendant may appeal in accordance 11
with Rule 5-405 NMRA and Rule 12-204 NMRA. 12
[I.] H. Expedited trial scheduling for defendant in custody. The metropolitan court 13
shall provide expedited priority scheduling in a case in which the defendant is detained pending 14
trial. The court shall hold a status review hearing in any case in which the defendant has been held 15
for more than sixty (60) days. The purpose of the status review hearing is to conduct a meaningful 16
review of the progress of the case. If the court determines that insufficient progress has been made, 17
then the court shall issue an appropriate scheduling order. 18
[J.] I. Petition to district court for review of revocation order. If the metropolitan court 19
issues an order revoking the defendant’s release, th e defendant may petition the district court for 20
review under this paragraph and Rule 5-403(K) NMRA. 21
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
RULE 7-403 July 29, 2025
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(1) Petition; requirements. The petition shall include the specific facts that 1
warrant review by the district court and may include a request for a he aring. The petitioner shall 2
promptly 3
(a) file a copy of the district court petition in the metropolitan court; 4
(b) serve a copy on the district attorney; and 5
(c) provide a copy to the assigned district court judge. 6
(2) Metropolitan court’s jurisdiction pending determination of the 7
petition. On the filing of the petition, the metropolitan court’s jurisdiction to set or amend 8
conditions of release shall be suspended pending determination of the petition by the district court. 9
The metropolitan court shall retain jurisdiction over all other aspects of the case, and the case shall 10
proceed in the metropolitan court while the petition is pending. 11
(3) District court review. The district court shall rule on the petition in an 12
expedited manner. 13
(a) Within three (3) days after the petition is filed, the district court shall 14
take one of the following actions: 15
(i) issue an order affirming the revocation order; or 16
(ii) set a hearing to be held within ten (10) days after the filing 17
of the petition and promptly send a copy of the notice to the metropolitan court. 18
(b) If the district court holds a hearing on the petition, at the conclusion 19
of the hearing the court shall issue either an order affirming the revocation order or an order setting 20
conditions of release under Rule 5-401 NMRA. 21
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
RULE 7-403 July 29, 2025
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(4) District court order; transmission to metropolitan court. The district court 1
shall promptly send the order to the metropolitan court, and jurisdiction over the conditions of 2
release shall revert to the metropolitan court. 3
(5) Appeal. If the district court affirms the revocation order, the defendant may 4
appeal in accordance with Rule 5-405 NMRA and Rule 12-204 NMRA. 5
[As amended, effective September 1, 1990; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 17-8300-6
005, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after July 1, 2017; as amended by Supreme Court 7
Order No. 18-8300-024, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after February 1, 2019; as 8
amended by Supreme Court Order No. 22-8300-015, effective for all cases pending or filed on or 9
after December 31, 2022; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. S -1-RCR-2024-00068, 10
effective for all cases pending or filed on or after May 8, 2024; as provisionally amended by 11
Supreme Court Order No. S-1-AO-2025-00013, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after 12
July 29, 2025.] 13
Committee commentary. — The 2017 amendments to this rule clarify the procedure for 14
the court to follow when considering revocation of the defendant’s pretrial release or modification 15
of the defendant’s conditions of release for violating the conditions of release. In State v. 16
Segura, 2014-NMCA-037, ¶¶ 1, 24- 25, 321 P.3d 140, overruled on other grounds by State v. 17
Ameer, 2018-NMSC-030, ¶ 69, 458 P.3d 390, the Court of Appeals held that due process requires 18
courts to afford the defendant notice and an opportunity to be heard before the court may revoke 19
the defendant’s bail and remand the defendant into custody. See also Tijerina v. Baker, 1968-20
NMSC-009, ¶ 9, 78 N.M. 770, 438 P.2d 514 (explaining that the right to bail is not absolute); id. 21
¶ 10 (“If the court has inherent power to revoke bail of a defendant during trial and pending final 22
disposition of the criminal case in order to prevent interference with witnesses or the proper 23
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
RULE 7-403 July 29, 2025
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administration of justice, the right to do so before trial seems to be equally apparent under a proper 1
set of facts.”); State v. Rivera, 2003-NMCA-059, ¶ 20, 133 N.M. 571, 66 P.3d 344 (“Conditions 2
of release are separate, coercive powers of a court, apart from the bond itself. They are enforceable 3
by immediate arrest, revocation, or modification if violated. Such conditions of release are 4
intended to protect the public and keep the defendant in line.”), rev’d on other grounds, 2004-5
NMSC-001, 134 N.M. 768, 82 P.3d 939. 6
[As used in Paragraph D, a “local detention center” is “one that is commonly used by the 7
metropolitan court in the normal course of business and not necessarily within the territorial 8
jurisdiction of the court.” Rule 7-401(A)(3) NMRA.] 9
Paragraph [G] F provides that the New Mexico Rules of Evidence do not apply at a 10
revocation hearing, consistent with Rule 11- 1101(D)(3)(e) NMRA. As with courts in other types 11
of proceedings in which the Rules of Evidence do not apply, a court presiding over a pretrial 12
detention hearing is responsible “for assessing the reliability and accuracy” of the information 13
presented. See United States v. Martir, 782 F.2d 1141, 1145 (2d Cir. 1986) (explaining that in a 14
pretrial detention hearing the judge “retains the responsibility for assessing the reliability and 15
accuracy of the government’s information, whether presented by proffer or by direct proof”); State 16
v. Ingram, 155 A.3d 597 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2017) (holding that it is within the discretion 17
of the detention hearing court to determine whether a pretrial detention order may be supported in 18
an individual case by documentary evidence, proffer, one or more live witnesses, or other forms 19
of information the court deems sufficient); see also United States v. Marshall, 519 F. Supp. 751, 20
754 (E.D. Wis. 1981) (“So long as the information which the sentencing judge considers has 21
sufficient indicia of reliability to support its probable accuracy, the information may properly be 22
taken into account in passing sentence.”), aff’d, 719 F.2d 887 (7th Cir. 1983); State v. 23
METROPOLITAN COURT CRIMINAL Supreme Court Approved
RULE 7-403 July 29, 2025
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Guthrie, 2011-NMSC-014, ¶¶ 36- 39, 43, 150 N.M. 84, 257 P.3d 904 (explaining that in a 1
probation revocation hearing, the court should focus on the reliability of the evidence); State v. 2
Vigil, 1982-NMCA-058, ¶ 24, 97 N.M. 749, 643 P.2d 618 (holding in a probation revocation 3
hearing that hearsay untested for accuracy or reliability lacked probative value). 4
Paragraph [I] H requires the metropolitan court to prioritize the scheduling of trial and 5
other proceedings for cases in which the defendant is held in custody. See generally United States 6
v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 747 (1987) (concluding that the detention provisions in the Bail Reform 7
Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3142, did not violate due process, in part because of “the stringent time limitations 8
of the Speedy Trial Act,” 18 U.S.C. § 3161); Am. Bar Ass’n, ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: 9
Pretrial Release, Standard 10-5.11 (3d ed. 2007) (“Every jurisdiction should establish, by statute 10
or court rule, accelerated time limitations within which detained defendants should be tried 11
consistent with the sound administration of justice.”). This rule does not preclude earlier or more 12
regular status review hearings. The purpose of the hearing is to determine how best to expedite a 13
trial in the case. A meaningful review of the progress of the case includes assessment of the parties’ 14
compliance with applicable deadlines, satisfaction of discovery obligations, and witness 15
availability, among other matters. If the court determines that the parties have made insufficient 16
progress on these measures, then it shall issue an appropriate scheduling order. 17
[Adopted by Supreme Court Order No. 17-8300-005, effective for all cases pending or filed on or 18
after July 1, 2017; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 22- 8300-015, effective for all cases 19
pending or filed on or after December 31, 2022; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. S -1-20
RCR-2023-00021, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after December 31, 2023; as 21
provisionally amended by Supreme Court Order No. S-1-AO-2025-00013, effective for all cases 22
pending or filed on or after July 29, 2025.] 23
MUNICIPAL COURT Supreme Court Approved
RULE 8-401 July 29, 2025
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8-401. Pretrial release. 1
A. Hearing. 2
(1) Time. The court shall conduct a hearing under this rule and issue an order 3
setting conditions of release as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 4
(a) if the defendant remains in custody, three (3) days after the date of 5
arrest if the defendant is being held in the local detention center, or five (5) days after the date of 6
arrest if the defendant is not being held in the local detention center; 7
(b) arraignment, if the defendant is not in custody; or 8
(c) if the defendant remains in custody pending a hearing under Rule 8-9
403(D) NMRA, then within three (3) days after a temporary detention order is placed or the date 10
of the [initial] hearing conducted under Rule 8-403 NMRA if the defendant is being held in the 11
local detention center, or five (5) days after the date of the [initial] hearing conducted under Rule 8-12
403 NMRA if the defendant is not being held in the local detention center. 13
(2) Right to counsel. If the defendant does not have counsel at the initial release 14
conditions hearing and is not ordered released at the hearing, the matter shall be continued for no 15
longer than three (3) additional days for a further hearing to review conditions of release, at which 16
the defendant shall have the right to assistance of retained or appointed counsel. 17
(3) Local detention center; defined. A “local detention center” is one that is 18
commonly used by the municipal court in the normal course of business and not necessarily within 19
the territorial jurisdiction of the court. 20
B. Right to pretrial release; recognizance or unsecured appearance bond. Any 21
defendant shall be ordered released pending trial on the defendant’s personal recognizance or on 22
the execution of an unsecured appearance bond in an amount set by the court. The court may 23
MUNICIPAL COURT Supreme Court Approved
RULE 8-401 July 29, 2025
1 impose non-monetary conditions of release under Paragraph D of this rule, but the court shall
2 impose the least restrictive condition or combination of conditions that will reasonably ensure the
3 appearance of the defendant as required and the safety of any other person or the community. The
4 court may order execution of a secured appearance bond only if the court makes written findings
5 of particularized reasons why the release will not reasonably ensure the appearance of the
6 defendant as required under Paragraphs E and F of this rule.
7 C. Factors to be considered in determining conditions of release. In determining
8 the least restrictive conditions of release that will reasonably ensure the appearance of the
9 defendant as required and the safety of any other person and the community, the court shall
10 consider any available results of a pretrial risk assessment instrument approved by the Supreme
11 Court for use in the jurisdiction and the financial resources of the defendant. In addition, the court
12 may take into account the available information about
13 (1) the nature and circumstances of the offense charged, including whether the
14 offense is a crime of violence or involves alcohol or drugs;
15 (2) the weight of the evidence against the defendant;
16 (3) the history and characteristics of the defendant, including
17 (a) the defendant’s character, physical and mental condition, family
18 ties, employment, past and present residences, length of residence in the community, community
19 ties, past conduct, history relating to drug or alcohol abuse, criminal history, and record about
20 appearance at court proceedings; and
21 (b) whether, at the time of the current offense or arrest, the defendant
22 was on probation, on parole, or on other release pending trial, sentencing, or appeal for any offense
23 under federal, state, or local law;
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1 (4) the nature and seriousness of the danger to any person or the community
2 that would be posed by the defendant’s release;
3 (5) any other facts tending to indicate the defendant may or may not be likely
4 to appear as required; and
5 (6) any other facts tending to indicate the defendant may or may not commit
6 new crimes if released.
7 D. Non-monetary conditions of release. In its order setting conditions of release, the
8 court shall impose a standard condition that the defendant not commit a federal, state, or local
9 crime during the period of release. The court may also impose the least restrictive particularized
10 condition, or combination of particularized conditions, that the court finds will reasonably ensure
11 the appearance of the defendant as required, the safety of any other person and the community,
12 and the orderly administration of justice, which may include the condition that the defendant
13 (1) remain in the custody of a designated person who agrees to assume
14 supervision and to report any violation of a release condition to the court, if the designated person
15 is able reasonably to assure the court that the defendant will appear as required and will not pose
16 a danger to the safety of any other person or the community;
17 (2) maintain employment, or, if unemployed, actively seek employment;
18 (3) maintain or commence an educational program;
19 (4) abide by specified restrictions on personal associations, place of abode, or
20 travel;
21 (5) avoid all contact with an alleged victim of the crime or with a potential
22 witness who may testify about the offense;
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(6) report on a regular ba sis to a designated pretrial services agency or other 1
agency agreeing to supervise the defendant; 2
(7) comply with a specified curfew; 3
(8) refrain from possessing a firearm, destructive device, or other dangerous 4
weapon; 5
(9) refrain from a ny use of alcohol or any use of an illegal drug or other 6
controlled substance without a prescription by a licensed medical practitioner; 7
(10) refrain from any use of cannabis, cannabis products, or synthetic 8
cannabinoids without a certification from a licensed medical practitioner; 9
(11) submit to a drug test or an alcohol test on request of a person designated by 10
the court; 11
(12) return to custody for specified hours after release for employment, 12
schooling, or other limited purposes; and 13
(13) satisfy any other condition that is reasonably necessary to ensure the 14
appearance of the defendant as required and the safety of any other person and the community. 15
E. Secured bond. If the court makes written findings of the particularized reasons 16
why rel ease on personal recognizance or unsecured appearance bond, in addition to any non-17
monetary conditions of release, will not reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant as 18
required, the court may require a secured bond for the defendant’s release. 19
(1) Factors to be considered in setting secured bond. 20
(a) In determining whether any secured bond is necessary, the court 21
may consider any facts tending to indicate that the particular defendant may or may not be likely 22
to appear as required. 23
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(b) The court shall set secured bond at the lowest amount necessary to 1
reasonably ensure the defendant’s appearance and with regard to the defendant’s financial ability 2
to secure a bond. 3
(c) The court shall not set a secured bond that a defendant cannot afford 4
for the purpose of detaining a defendant who is otherwise eligible for pretrial release. 5
(d) Secured bond shall not be set by reference to a predetermined schedule of monetary 6
amounts fixed according to the nature of the charge. 7
(2) Types of secured bond. If a secured bond is determined necessary in a 8
particular case, the court shall impose the first of the following types of secured bond that will 9
reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant. 10
(a) Percentage bond. The court may require a secured appearance bond 11
executed by the defendant in the full amount specified in the order setting conditions of release, 12
secured by a deposit in cash of ten percent (10%) of the amount specified. The deposit may be 13
returned as provided in Paragraph K of this rule. 14
(b) Property bond. The court may require the execution of a property 15
bond by the defendant or by unpaid sureties in the full amount specified in the order setting 16
conditions of release, secured by the pledging of real property in accordance with Rule 8-17
401.1 NMRA. 18
(c) Cash or surety bond. The court may give the defendant the option 19
of either 20
(i) a secured appearance bond executed by the defendant in the 21
full amount specified in the order setting conditions of release, secured by a deposit in cash of one 22
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hundred percent (100%) of the amount specified, which may be returned as provided in Paragraph 1
K of this rule, or 2
(ii) a surety bond executed by licensed sureties in accordance 3
with Rule 8-401.2 NMRA for one hundred percent (100%) of the full amount specified in the order 4
setting conditions of release. 5
F. Order setting conditions of release; contents. 6
(1) Contents of order setting conditions of release. The written order setting 7
conditions of release shall be provided to the defendant before release if the defendant is in custody 8
or within three (3) days of the conditions of release hearing if the defendant is not in custody, and 9
(a) include a written statement that sets forth all the conditions to which 10
the release is subject, in a m anner sufficiently clear and specific to serve as a guide for the 11
defendant’s conduct; 12
(b) advise the defendant of 13
(i) the penalties for violating a condition of release, including 14
the penalties for committing an offense while on pretrial release; 15
(ii) the consequences for violating a condition of release, 16
including the immediate issuance of a warrant for the defendant’s arrest, revocation of pretrial 17
release, and forfeiture of bond; and 18
(iii) the consequences of intimidating a witness, victim, or 19
informant, or otherwise obstructing justice. 20
(2) Written findings about secured bond. The court shall file written findings 21
of the individualized facts justifying a secured bond as soon as possible, but no later than two (2) 22
days after the conclusion of the hearing. 23
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G. Review of conditions of release by the municipal court. 1
(1) Review. If the municipal court requires a secured bond for the defendant’s 2
release under Paragraph E of this rule or imposes non- monetary conditions of releas e under 3
Paragraph D of this rule, and the defendant remains in custody twenty-four (24) hours after the 4
issuance of the order setting conditions of release as a result of the defendant’s inability to post the 5
secured bond or meet the conditions of release in the present case, the defendant shall be entitled 6
to a hearing to review the conditions of release. 7
(2) Review hearing. The municipal court shall hold a hearing in an expedited 8
manner, but in no event later than five (5) days after the conditions of release hearing. The 9
defendant shall have the right to assistance of retained or appointed counsel at the hearing. Unless 10
the order setting conditions of release is amended and the defendant is then released, the court shall 11
file a written order setting forth the reasons for declining to amend the order setting conditions of 12
release. The court shall consider the defendant’s financial ability to secure a bond. No defendant 13
eligible for pretrial release under Article II, Section 13 of the New Mexico Consti tution shall be 14
detained solely because of financial inability to post a secured bond unless the court determines 15
by clear and convincing evidence and makes findings of the reasons why the amount of secured 16
bond required by the court is reasonably necessar y to ensure the appearance of the particular 17
defendant as required. The court shall file written findings of the individualized facts justifying 18
the secured bond as soon as possible, but no later than two (2) days after the conclusion of the 19
hearing. 20
(3) Work or school release. A defendant who is ordered released on a condition 21
that requires that the defendant return to custody after specified hours, shall, on motion of the 22
defendant or the court’s own motion, be entitled to a hearing to review the conditions imposed. 23
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Unless the requirement is removed and the defendant is released on another condition, the court 1
shall file a written order setting forth the reason for the continuation of the requirement. A hearing 2
to review conditions of release under this subparagraph shall be held by the municipal court within 3
five (5) days of the filing of the motion. The defendant shall have the right to assistance of retained 4
or appointed counsel at the hearing. 5
(4) Subsequent motion for review. The defendant may file subsequent motions 6
for review of the order setting conditions of release, but the court may rule on subsequent motions 7
with or without a hearing. 8
H. Amendment of conditions. The court may amend its order setting conditions of 9
release at any time. If the amendment of the order may result in the detention of the defendant or 10
in more restrictive conditions of release, the court shall not amend the order without a hearing. If 11
the court is considering revocation of the defendant’s pretrial release or modification of the 12
defendant’s conditions of release for violating a condition of release, the court shall follow the 13
procedures set forth in Rule 8-403 NMRA. 14
I. Petition to district court. 15
(1) Defendant must seek review by municipal court before fili ng petition in 16
district court. The defendant may file a petition in the district court for review of the municipal 17
court’s order setting conditions of release only after the municipal court has reviewed the 18
conditions of release and made a requisite ruling under Paragraph G of this rule. The defendant 19
shall attach to the district court petition a copy of the municipal court order after the review of the 20
conditions of release. 21
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(2) Petition; requirements. A petition to the district court under this paragraph 1
shall include the specific facts that warrant review by the district court and may include a request 2
for a hearing. The petitioner shall promptly 3
(a) file a copy of the district court petition in the municipal court; 4
(b) serve a copy on the prosecutor; and 5
(c) provide a copy to the assigned district court judge. 6
(3) Municipal court’s jurisdiction pending determination of the petition. On 7
the filing of a petition under this paragraph, the municipal court’s jurisdiction to amend the 8
conditions of release shall be suspended pending determination of the petition by the district court. 9
The municipal court shall retain jurisdiction over all other aspects of the case, and the case shall 10
proceed in the municipal court while the district court petition is pending. The municipal court’s 11
order setting conditions of release shall remain in effect unless and until the district court issues 12
an order amending the conditions of release. 13
(4) District court review. The district court shall rule on the petitio n in an 14
expedited manner. Within three (3) days after the petition is filed, the district court shall take one 15
of the following actions: 16
(a) set a hearing no later than ten (10) days after the filing of the petition 17
and promptly send a copy of the notice to the municipal court; 18
(b) deny the petition summarily; or 19
(c) amend the order setting conditions of release without a hearing. 20
(5) District court order; transmission to municipal court. The district court 21
shall promptly send to the municipal court a copy of the district court order disposing of the 22
petition, and jurisdiction over the conditions of release shall revert to the municipal court. 23
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J. Expedited trial scheduling for defendant in custody. The municipal court shall 1
provide expedited priority s cheduling in a case in which the defendant is detained as a result of 2
inability to post a secured bond or meet the conditions of release. The court shall hold a status 3
review hearing in any case in which the defendant has been held for more than forty-five (45) days. 4
The purpose of the status review hearing is to conduct a meaningful review of the progress of the 5
case. If the court determines that insufficient progress has been made, then the court shall issue an 6
appropriate scheduling order. 7
K. Return of cash deposit. If a defendant has been released by executing a secured 8
appearance bond and depositing a cash deposit under Paragraph E of this rule, when the conditions 9
of the appearance bond have been performed and the defendant’s case has been adjudicated by the 10
court, the clerk shall return the sum that has been deposited to the person who deposited the sum, 11
or that person’s personal representatives or assigns. 12
L. Release from custody by designee. The presiding judge of the municipal court 13
may designate by written court order responsible persons to implement the pretrial release 14
procedures set forth in Rule 8-408 NMRA. A designee shall release a defendant from custody 15
before the defendant’s first appearance before a judge if the defendant is eligible for pretrial release 16
under Rule 8-408 NMRA, but may contact a judge for special consideration based on exceptional 17
circumstances. No person shall be qualified to serve as a designee if the person or the person’s 18
spouse is related within the second degree of blood or marriage to a paid surety who is licensed to 19
sell property or corporate bonds within this state. 20
M. Evidence. Information offered in connection with or stated in any proceeding held 21
or order entered under this rule need not conform to the New Mexico Rules of Evidence. 22
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N. Forms. Instruments required by this rule, including any order setting conditions of 1
release, appearance bond, property bond, or surety bond, shall be substantially in the form 2
approved by the Supreme Court. 3
O. Judicial discretion; disqualification. Action by any court on any matter relating 4
to pretrial release shall not preclude the subsequent disqualification of a judge under the provisions 5
of the New Mexico Constitution or the Code of Judicial Conduct. 6
[As amended, effective August 1, 1987; October 1, 1987; September 1, 1990; December 1, 1990; 7
as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 07-8300-034, effective January 22, 2008; by Supreme 8
Court Order No. 08-8300-047, effective December 31, 2008; as amended by Supreme Court Order 9
No. 17-8300-005, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after July 1, 2017; as amended by 10
Supreme Court Order No. 22- 8300-015, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after 11
December 31, 2022; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. S -1-RCR-2023-00021, effective 12
for all cases pending or filed on or after December 31, 2023; as amended by Supreme Court Order 13
No. S-1-RCR-2024-00068, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after May 8, 2024; as 14
provisionally amended by Supreme Court Order No. S-1-AO-2025-00013, effective for all cases 15
pending or filed on or after July 29, 2025.] 16
Committee commentary. — This rule provides “the mechanism through which a person 17
may effectuate the right to pretrial release afforded by Article II, Section 13 of the New Mexico 18
Constitution.” State v. Brown, 2014-NMSC-038, ¶ 37, 338 P.3d 1276. In 2016, Article II, Section 19
13 was amended (1) to permit a court of record to order the detention of a felony defendant pending 20
trial if the prosecutor proves by clear and convi ncing evidence that the defendant poses a danger 21
to the safety of any other person or the community and that no release condition or combination 22
of conditions will reasonably ensure the safety of any other person or the community, and (2) to 23
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require the pretrial release of a defendant who is in custody solely because of financial inability to 1
post a secured bond. This rule was derived from the federal statute governing the release or 2
detention of a defendant pending trial. See 18 U.S.C. § 3142. This rule wa s amended in 2017 to 3
implement the 2016 amendment to Article II, Section 13 and the Supreme Court’s holding 4
in Brown, 2014-NMSC-038. Corresponding rules are located in the Rules of Criminal Procedure 5
for the District Courts, see Rule 5-401 NMRA, the Rules of Criminal Procedure for the Magistrate 6
Courts, see Rule 6-401 NMRA, and the Rules of Criminal Procedure for the Metropolitan 7
Courts, see Rule 7-401 NMRA. 8
Time periods specified in this rule are computed in accordance with Rule 8-104 NMRA. 9
Just as assista nce of counsel is required at a detention hearing under Rule 5-409 NMRA 10
that may result in a denial of pretrial release based on dangerousness, Subparagraphs (A)(2), 11
(G)(2), and (G)(3) of this rule provide that assistance of counsel is required in a procee ding that 12
may result in denial of pretrial release based on reasons that do not involve dangerousness, such 13
as a simple inability to meet a financial condition. 14
As set forth in Paragraph B, a defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance or 15
unsecured bond unless the court determines that any release, in addition to any non- monetary 16
conditions of release under Paragraph D, will not reasonably ensure the appearance of the 17
defendant and the safety of any other person or the community. 18
Paragraph C l ists the factors the court should consider when determining conditions of 19
release. In all cases, the court is required to consider any available results of a pretrial risk 20
assessment instrument approved by the Supreme Court for use in the jurisdiction and the financial 21
resources of the defendant. 22
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Paragraph D lists various non-monetary conditions of release. The court must impose the 1
least restrictive condition, or combination of conditions, that will reasonably ensure the appearance 2
of the defendant as required and the safety of any other person and the community. See 3
Brown, 2014-NMSC-038, ¶¶ 1, 37, 39. If the defendant has previously been released on standard 4
conditions before a court appearance, the judge should review the conditions at the defendant’s 5
first appearance to determine whether any particularized conditions should be imposed under the 6
circumstances of the case. Paragraph D also permits the court to impose non-monetary conditions 7
of release to ensure the orderly administration of justice. This pr ovision was derived from the 8
American Bar Association, ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: Pretrial Release, Standard 10-9
5.2 (3d ed. 2007). Some conditions of release may have a cost associated with the condition. The 10
court should make a determination about whether the defendant can afford to pay all or a part of 11
the cost, or whether the court has the authority to waive the cost, because detaining a defendant 12
because of inability to pay the cost associated with a condition of release is comparable to detaining 13
a defendant because of financial inability to post a secured bond. 14
As set forth in Paragraph E, the only purpose for which the court may impose a secured 15
bond is to ensure that the defendant will appear for trial and other pretrial proceedings for whic h 16
the defendant must be present. See State v. Ericksons, 1987-NMSC-108, ¶ 6, 106 N.M. 567, 746 17
P.2d 1099 (“[T]he purpose of bail is to secure the defendant’s attendance to submit to the 18
punishment to be imposed by the court.”); see also NMSA 1978, § 31-3-2(B)(2) (1993) 19
(authorizing the forfeiture of bond on the defendant’s failure to appear). 20
The 2017 amendments to this rule clarify that the amount of secured bond must not be 21
based on a bond schedule, i.e., a predetermined schedule of monetary amounts fixed according to 22
the nature of the charge. Instead, the court must consider the individual defendant’s financial 23
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resources and must set secured bond at the lowest amount that will reasonably ensure the 1
defendant’s appearance in court after the defendant is released. 2
Secured bond cannot be used for the purpose of detaining a defendant who may pose a 3
danger to the safety of any other person or the community. See Brown, 2014-NMSC-038, ¶ 53 4
(“Neither the New Mexico Constitution nor our rules of criminal procedure permit a judge to set 5
high bail for the purpose of preventing a defendant’s pretrial release.”); see also Stack v. Boyle, 6
342 U.S. 1, 5 (1951) (stating that secured bond set higher than the amount reasonably calculated 7
to ensure the defendant’s appearance in court “is ‘excessive’ under the Eighth Amendment”). 8
The court should consider the authorized types of secured bonds in the order of priority set 9
forth in Paragraph E. The court must first consider requiring an appearance bond secured by a cash 10
deposit of ten percent (10%). No other percentage is permitted under the rule. If a cash deposit of 11
ten percent (10%) is inadequate, the court then must consider a property bond involving property 12
that belongs to the defendant or other unpaid surety. If neither of these options is sufficient to 13
reasonably ensure the defendant’s appearance, the court may require a cash or surety bond for the 14
defendant’s release. If the court requires a cash or surety bond, the defendant has the option either 15
to execute an appearance bond and deposit one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of the bond 16
with the court or to purchase a bond from a paid surety. Under Subparagraph (E)(2)(c), the 17
defendant alone has the choice to post the bond by a one hundred percent (100%) cash deposit or 18
a surety. The court does not have the option to set a cash-only bond or a surety-only bond; it must 19
give the defendant the choice of either. A paid surety may execute a surety bond or a real or 20
personal property bond only if the conditions of Rule 8-401.2 NMRA are met. 21
Paragraph F governs the contents of an order setting conditions of release. See Form 9-22
303 NMRA (order setting conditions of release). Although pretrial release hearings are not 23
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required to be a matter of record in the municipal court, Paragraph F requires the court to make 1
written findings justifying the imposition of a secured bond. Judges are encouraged to enter their 2
written findings on the order setting conditions of release at the conclusion of the hearing. If more 3
detailed findings are necessary, the judge should make any supplemental findings in a separate 4
document within two (2) days of the conclusion of the hearing. 5
Paragraph G sets forth the procedure for review of the defendant’s conditions of release in 6
the municipal court. Paragraph I sets forth the procedure for the defendant to petition the district 7
court for review of the conditions of release set by the municipal court. Article II, Section 13 of 8
the New Mexico Constitution requires the court to rule on a motion or petition for pretrial release 9
“in an expedited manner” and to release a defendant who is being held solely because of financial 10
inability to post a secured bond. A defendant who wishes to present financial information to a court 11
to support a motion or a petition for pretrial release may present Form 9-301A NMRA (pretrial 12
release financial affidavit) to the court. The defendant shall be entitled to appear and participate 13
personally with counsel before the judge conducting any hearing to review the conditions of 14
release, rather than by any means of remote electronic conferencing. 15
Paragraph J requires the municipal court to prioritize the scheduling of trial and other 16
proceedings for cases in which the defendant is held in custody because of inability to post bond 17
or meet the conditions of release. See generally United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 747 (1987) 18
(concluding that the detention provisions in the Bail Reform Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3142, did not violate 19
due process, in part because of “the stringent time limitations of the Speedy Trial Act,” 18 U.S.C. 20
§ 3161); Am. Bar Ass’n, ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: Pretrial Release, Standard 10-5.11 21
(3d ed. 2007) (“Every jurisdiction should establish, by statute or court rule, accelerated time 22
limitations within which deta ined defendants should be tried consistent with the sound 23
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administration of justice.”). This rule does not preclude earlier or more regular status review 1
hearings. The purpose of the hearing is to determine how best to expedite a trial in the case. A 2
meaningful review of the progress of the case includes assessment of the parties’ compliance with 3
applicable deadlines, satisfaction of discovery obligations, and witness availability, among other 4
matters. If the court determines that the parties have made insufficient progress on these measures, 5
then it shall issue an appropriate scheduling order. 6
Under NMSA 1978, Section 31-3-1 (1972), the court may appoint a designee to carry out 7
the provisions of this rule. As set forth in Paragraph L, a designee must be des ignated by the 8
presiding municipal court judge in a written court order. A person may not be appointed as a 9
designee if that person is related within the second degree of blood or marriage to a paid surety 10
licensed in this state to execute bail bonds. A ja iler may be appointed as a designee. Paragraph L 11
and Rule 8-408 NMRA govern the limited circumstances under which a designee shall release an 12
arrested defendant from custody before that defendant’s first appearance before a judge. 13
Paragraph M of this rule dovetails with Rule 11- 1101(D)(3)(e) NMRA. Both provide that 14
the Rules of Evidence do not apply to proceedings in the municipal court with respect to matters 15
of pretrial release. As with courts in other types of proceedings in which the Rules of Evidence do 16
not apply, a court presiding over a pretrial release hearing is responsible “for assessing the 17
reliability and accuracy” of the information presented. See United States v. Martir, 782 F.2d 1141, 18
1145 (2d Cir. 1986) (explaining that in a pretrial detention hearing the judge “retains the 19
responsibility for assessing the reliability and accuracy of the government’s information, whether 20
presented by proffer or by direct proof”); see also United States v. Marshall, 519 F. Supp. 751, 21
754 (E.D. Wis. 1981) (“So l ong as the information which the sentencing judge considers has 22
sufficient indicia of reliability to support its probable accuracy, the information may properly be 23
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taken into account in passing sentence.”), aff’d, 719 F.2d 887 (7th Cir. 1983); State v. 1
Guthrie, 2011-NMSC-014, ¶¶ 36- 39, 43, 150 N.M. 84, 257 P.3d 904 (explaining that in a 2
probation revocation hearing, the court should focus on the reliability of the evidence). 3
As set forth in Rule 8-106 NMRA, no right to peremptory disqualification exists in the 4
municipal court, but a judge may file a recusal either on the court’s own motion or motion of a 5
party. See N.M. Const. art. VI, § 18; Rule 21-211 NMRA. 6
[Adopted by Supreme Court Order No. 17-8300-005, effective for all cases pending or filed on or 7
after July 1, 2017; as amended by Supreme Court No. 22-8300-015, effective for all cases pending 8
or filed on or after December 31, 2022; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. S-1-RCR-2024-9
00068 effective for all cases pending or filed on or after May 8, 2024.] 10
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1 8-403. Revocation or modification of release orders.
2 A. Scope. In accordance with this rule, the court may consider revocation of the
3 defendant’s pretrial release or modification of the defendant’s conditions of release
4 (1) if the defendant is alleged to have violated a condition of release; or
5 (2) to prevent interference with witnesses or the proper administration of
6 justice.
7 B. Motion for revocation or modification of conditions of release.
8 (1) The court may consider revocation of the defendant’s pretrial release or
9 modification of the defendant’s conditions of release on motion of the prosecutor or on the court’s
10 own motion.
11 (2) The defendant may file a response to the motion, but the filing of a response
12 shall not delay any hearing under Paragraph D [or E] of this rule.
13 C. Issuance of summons or bench warrant. If the court does not deny the motion on
14 the pleadings, the court shall issue a summons and notice of hearing, unless the court finds that the
15 interests of justice may be better served by the issuance of a bench warrant. The summons or bench
16 warrant shall include notice of the reasons for the review of the pretrial release decision.
17 [D. Initial hearing.
18 (1) The court shall hold an initial hearing as soon as practicable, but if the
19 defendant is in custody, the hearing shall be held no later than three (3) days after the defendant is
20 detained if the defendant is being held in the local detention center, or no later than five (5) days
21 after the defendant is detained if the defendant is not being held in the local detention center.
22 (2) At the initial hearing, the court may continue the existing conditions of
23 release, set different conditions of release, or propose revocation of release.
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(3) If the court proposes revocation of release, the court shall schedule an 1
evidentiary hearing under Paragraph E of this rule, unless waived by the defendant.] 2
[E.] D. [Evidentiary hearing] Hearing on alleged violation. 3
(1) Time. [The evidentiary] A hearing shall be held as soon as practicable. If 4
the defendant is in custody, the [evidentiary] hearing shall be held no later than [seven (7)] five (5) 5
days after the [initial hearing] defendant is detained. 6
(2) At the hearing, the court may continue the existing conditions of release, set 7
different conditions of release, or if the court is considering revocation of release, the court shall 8
conduct an evidentiary hearing, unless waived by the defendant. 9
[(2)] (3) Defendant’s rights. The defendant has the right to be present and to be 10
represented by counsel and, if financially unable to obtain counsel, to have counsel appointed. 11
[The] If the court is considering revocation of release and an evidentiary hearing is conducted, the 12
defendant shall be afforded an opportunity to testify, to present witnesses, to compel the attendance 13
of witnesses, to cross-examine witnesses who appear at the hearing, and to present information by 14
proffer or otherwise. If the defe ndant testifies at the hearing, the defendant’s testimony shall not 15
be used against the defendant at trial except for impeachment purposes or in a subsequent 16
prosecution for perjury. 17
[F.] E. Order at completion of [evidentiary] hearing. 18
(1) If at the conclusion of the hearing, the court continues or amends the 19
defendant’s conditions of release, then a written order continuing or amending the defendant’s 20
conditions of release shall be provided to the defendant at the time of the release from custody if 21
the defendant is in custody, or within three (3) days of the hearing if the defendant is not in custody. 22
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(2) If the defendant waives an evidentiary hearing and the court finds that the 1
conditions of release should be revoked, an order revoking conditions of release, including written 2
findings of the individualized facts justifying revocation, shall be filed within three (3) days of the 3
hearing. 4
(3) If an evidentiary hearing is conducted, at [At] the completion of [an] the 5
evidentiary hearing, the court shal l determine whether the defendant has violated a condition of 6
release or whether revocation of the defendant’s release is necessary to prevent interference with 7
witnesses or the proper administration of justice, and may: 8
[(1)] (a) continue the existing conditions of release; 9
[(2)] (b) set new or additional conditions of release in accordance with 10
Rule 8-401 NMRA; or 11
[(3)] (c) revoke the defendant’s release, if the court 12
[(a)] (i) finds either probable cause to believe that the defendant 13
committed a federal, state, or local crime while on release, or clear and convincing evidence that 14
the defendant has willfully violated any other condition of release; and 15
[(i) probable cause to believe that the defendant committed a 16
federal, state, or local crime while on release; or 17
(ii) clear and convincing evidence that the defendant has 18
willfully violated any other condition of release; and] 19
[(b)] (ii) finds clear and convincing evidence that either no condition 20
or combination of conditions will reasonably ensure the defendant’s compliance with the release 21
conditions ordered by the court, or revocation of the defendant’s release is necessary to prevent 22
interference with witnesses or the proper administration of justice. 23
MUNICIPAL COURT Supreme Court Approved
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[(i) no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably 1
ensure the defendant’s compliance with the release conditions ordered by the court; or 2
(ii) revocation of the defendant’s release is necessary to prevent 3
interference with witnesses or the proper administration of justice.] 4
(4) [An] If the court revokes conditions of release after an evidentiary hearing, 5
an order revoking release shall include written findings of the individualized facts justifying 6
revocation and shall be filed within three (3) days of the evidentiary hearing. 7
(5) If the court continues or amends the defendant’s conditions of release after 8
an evidentiary hearing, then a written order continuing or amending the defendant’s conditions of 9
release shall be provided to the defendant at the time of release from custody if the defendant is in 10
custody, or within three (3) days of the hearing if the defendant is not in custody. 11
[G.] F. Evidence. The New Mexico Rules of Evidence shall not appl y to the presentation 12
and consideration of information at [any] a hearing under this rule. 13
[H.] G. Review of conditions. If the municipal court enters an order setting new or 14
additional conditions of release and the defendant is detained or continues to be detained because 15
of a failure to meet a condition imposed, or is subject to a requirement to return to custody after 16
specified hours, the defendant may petition the district court for review in accordance with Rule 8-17
401(I) NMRA. The defendant may petition the district court immediately on the issuance of the 18
municipal court order and shall not be required to first seek review or reconsideration by the 19
municipal court. If, on disposition of the petition by the district court, the defendant is detained or 20
continues to be detained because of a failure to meet a condition imposed, or is subject to a 21
requirement to return to custody after specified hours, the defendant may appeal in accordance 22
with Rule 5-405 NMRA and Rule 12-204 NMRA. 23
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[I.] H. Expedited trial scheduling for defendant in custody. The municipal court shall 1
provide expedited priority scheduling in a case in which the defendant is detained pending trial. 2
The court shall hold a status review hearing in any case in which the defendant has been held fo r 3
more than forty-five (45) days. The purpose of the status review hearing is to conduct a meaningful 4
review of the progress of the case. If the court determines that insufficient progress has been made, 5
then the court shall issue an appropriate scheduling order. 6
[J.] I. Petition to district court for review of revocation order. If the municipal court 7
issues an order revoking the defendant’s release, the defendant may petition the district court for 8
review under this paragraph and Rule 5-403(K) NMRA. 9
(1) Petition; requirements. The petition shall include the specific facts that 10
warrant review by the district court and may include a request for a hearing. The petitioner shall 11
promptly 12
(a) file a copy of the district court petition in the municipal court; 13
(b) serve a copy on the prosecutor; and 14
(c) provide a copy to the assigned district court judge. 15
(2) Municipal court’s jurisdiction pending determination of the petition. On 16
the filing of the petition, the municipal court’s jurisdiction to set or amend conditions of release 17
shall be suspended pending determination of the petition by the district court. The municipal court 18
shall retain jurisdiction over all other aspects of the case, and the case shall proceed in the 19
municipal court while the petition is pending. 20
(3) District court review. The district court shall rule on the petition in an 21
expedited manner. 22
MUNICIPAL COURT Supreme Court Approved
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(a) Within three (3) days after the petition is filed, the district court shall 1
take one of the following actions: 2
(i) issue an order affirming the revocation order; or 3
(ii) set a hearing to be held within ten (10) days after the filing 4
of the petition and promptly send a copy of the notice to the municipal court. 5
(b) If the district court holds a hearing on the petition, at the conclusion 6
of the hearing the court shall issue either an order affirming the revocation order or an order setting 7
conditions of release under Rule 5-401 NMRA. 8
(4) District court order; transmission to municipal court. The district court 9
shall promptly send the order to the municipal court, and jurisdiction over the conditions of release 10
shall revert to the municipal court. 11
(5) Appeal. If the district court affirms the revocation order, the defendant may 12
appeal in accordance with Rule 5-405 NMRA and Rule 12-204 NMRA. 13
[Approved, effective July 1, 1988; as amended, effective September 1, 1990; as amended by 14
Supreme Court Order No. 08- 8300-047, effective December 31, 2008; as amended by Supreme 15
Court Order No. 17-8300-005, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after July 1, 2017; as 16
amended by Supreme Court Order No. 18-8300-024, effective for all cases pending or filed on or 17
after February 1, 2019; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 22- 8300-015, effective for all 18
cases pending or filed on or after December 31, 2022; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 19
S-1-RCR-2024-00068, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after May 8, 2024; as 20
provisionally amended by Supreme Court Order No. S-1-AO-2025-00013, effective for all cases 21
pending or filed on or after July 29, 2025.] 22
MUNICIPAL COURT Supreme Court Approved
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Committee commentary. — The 2017 amendments to this rule clarify the procedure for 1
the court to follow when considering revocation of the defendant’s pretrial release or modification 2
of the defendant’s conditions of release for violating the conditions of release. In State v. 3
Segura, 2014-NMCA-037, ¶¶ 1, 24- 25, 321 P.3d 140, overruled on other grounds by State v. 4
Ameer, 2018-NMSC-030, ¶ 69, 458 P.3d 390, the Court of Appeals held that due process requires 5
courts to afford the defendant notice and an opportunity to be heard before the court may revoke 6
the defendant’s bail and remand the defendant into custody. See also Tijerina v. Baker, 1968-7
NMSC-009, ¶ 9, 78 N.M. 770, 438 P.2d 514 (explaining that the right to bail is not absolute); id. 8
¶ 10 (“If the court has inherent power to revoke bail of a defendant during trial and pending final 9
disposition of the criminal case in order to prevent interference with witnesses or the proper 10
administration of justice, the right to do so before trial seems to be equally apparent under a proper 11
set of facts.”); State v. Rivera, 2003-NMCA-059, ¶ 20, 133 N.M. 571, 66 P.3d 344 (“Conditions 12
of release are separate, coercive powers of a court, apart from the bond itself. They are enforceable 13
by immediate arrest, revocation, or modification if violated. These conditions of release are 14
intended to protect the public and keep the defendant in line.”), rev’d on other grounds, 2004-15
NMSC-001, 134 N.M. 768, 82 P.3d 939. 16
[As used in Paragraph D, a “local detention center” is “one that is commonly used by the 17
municipal court in the normal course of business and not necessarily within the territorial 18
jurisdiction of the court.” Rule 8-401(A)(3) NMRA.] 19
Paragraph [G] F provides that the New Mexico Rule s of Evidence do not apply at a 20
revocation hearing, consistent with Rule 11- 1101(D)(3)(e) NMRA. As with courts in other types 21
of proceedings in which the Rules of Evidence do not apply, a court presiding over a pretrial 22
detention hearing is responsible “for assessing the reliability and accuracy” of the information 23
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presented. See United States v. Martir, 782 F.2d 1141, 1145 (2d Cir. 1986) (explaining that in a 1
pretrial detention hearing the judge “retains the responsibility for assessing the reliability and 2
accuracy of the government’s information, whether presented by proffer or by direct proof”); State 3
v. Ingram, 155 A.3d 597 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2017) (holding that it is within the discretion 4
of the detention hearing court to determine whether a pretrial detention order may be supported in 5
an individual case by documentary evidence, proffer, one or more live witnesses, or other forms 6
of information the court deems sufficient); see also United States v. Marshall, 519 F. Supp. 751, 7
754 (E.D. Wis. 1981) (“So long as the information which the sentencing judge considers has 8
sufficient indicia of reliability to support its probable accuracy, the information may properly be 9
taken into account in passing sentence.”), aff’d, 719 F.2d 887 (7th Cir. 1983); State v. 10
Guthrie, 2011-NMSC-014, ¶¶ 36- 39, 43, 150 N.M. 84, 257 P.3d 904 (explaining that in a 11
probation revocation hearing, the court should focus on the reliability of the evidence); State v. 12
Vigil, 1982-NMCA-058, ¶ 24, 97 N.M. 749, 643 P.2d 618 (holding in a probation revocation 13
hearing that hearsay untested for accuracy or reliability lacked probative value). 14
Paragraph [I] H requires the municipal court to prioritize the scheduling of trial and other 15
proceedings for cases in which the defendant is held in custody. See generally United States v. 16
Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 747 (1987) (concluding that the detention provisions in the Bail Reform 17
Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3142, did not violate due process, in part because of “the stringent time limitations 18
of the Speedy Trial Act,” 18 U.S.C. § 3161); Am. Bar Ass’n, ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: 19
Pretrial Release, Standard 10-5.11 (3d ed. 2007) (“Every jurisdiction should establish, by statute 20
or court rule, accelerated time limitations within which detained defendants should be tried 21
consistent with the sound administration of justice.”). This rule does not preclude earlier or more 22
regular status review hearings. The purpose of the hearing is to determine how best to expedite a 23
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trial in the case. A meaningful review of the progress of the case includes assessment of the parties’ 1
compliance with applicable deadlines, satisfaction of discovery obligations, and witness 2
availability, among other matters. If the court determines that the parties have made insufficient 3
progress on these measures, then it shall issue an appropriate scheduling order. 4
[Adopted by Supreme Court Order No. 17-8300-005, effective for all cases pending or filed on or 5
after July 1, 2017; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. 22- 8300-015, effective for all cases 6
pending or filed on or after December 31, 2022; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. S -1-7
RCR-2023-00021, effective for all cases pending or filed on or after December 31, 2023; as 8
provisionally amended by Supreme Court Order No. S-1-AO-2025-00013, effective for all cases 9
pending or filed on or after July 29, 2025.] 10
Provenance
- Source
- supremecourt.nmcourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-30
- Edition
- 2026-09-30
- Content hash
b41f954268dd5098095cf32baf7b9f42de7d2c05c88cd72961db0a7f934202dc
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