N.M. Admin. Code § 19.11.3.11

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 19.11.3.11 - CONDUCT OF HEARINGS

A.Testimony. Hearings shall be conducted without rigid formality. The division shall take or have someone take a transcript or recording of the testimony and preserve it as part of the division's records. A person testifying shall do so under oath. The hearing examiner shall designate whether an interested person's unsworn comments and observations are relevant and, if relevant, include the comments and observations in the record.

B.Pre-filed testimony. The director or hearing examiner may order the parties to file prepared written testimony in advance of the hearing. The witness shall be present at the hearing and shall adopt, under oath, the prepared written testimony, subject to cross-examination and motion to strike the unless the witness' presence at hearing is waived upon notice to other parties and without their objection. The parties shall number pages of prepared written testimony, which shall contain line numbers on the left-hand side.

C.Appearances pro se or through attorney. Parties may appear and participate in hearings either pro se (on their own behalf) or through an attorney. Corporations, partnerships, governmental entities, political subdivisions, unincorporated associations and other collective entities may appear only through an attorney or duly authorized officer or member. Participation in hearings shall be limited to parties as defined in 19.11.3.10 NMAC, except that a representative of a federal, state or tribal governmental agency or political subdivision may make a statement on the agency's or political subdivision's behalf. The hearing examiner shall have the discretion to allow other persons at the hearing to make a relevant statement, but not to present evidence or cross examine witnesses. A person making a statement shall be subject to cross-examination by the parties or their attorneys.

D.Presentation of evidence. The hearing examiner shall afford full opportunity to the parties at a hearing to present evidence and to cross-examine witnesses. The rules of evidence applicable in a trial before a court without a jury shall not control, but hearing examiners may use such rules as guidance in conducting hearings. The hearing examiner may admit relevant evidence, unless it is immaterial, repetitious or otherwise unreliable. The hearing examiner may take administrative notice of the authenticity of documents copied from the division's files.

E. Parties introducing exhibits at hearings shall provide a complete set for the court reporter, if applicable, the hearing examiner and other parties.

N.M. Admin. Code § 19.11.3.11

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXIX, Issue 04, February 27, 2018, eff. 2/27/2018