This summary was computer-generated without any editorial revision. It is not official, has not been checked for accuracy, and is NOT citable.
Facts
The Supreme Court of New Mexico considered the adoption of vendor-neutral citations for appellate opinions, New Mexico Statutes Annotated, Court Rules, and Uniform Jury Instructions. This change aimed to standardize citation practices across all pleadings and papers filed in New Mexico courts, ensuring consistency and accessibility in legal references.
Procedural History
- Supreme Court of New Mexico, Provisional Order dated August 15, 1997: The Court issued a provisional order regarding vendor-neutral citations, which was later withdrawn by the current decision.
Parties' Submissions
- [Not applicable or not found]
Legal Issues
- Should vendor-neutral citations be adopted as the official citation format for appellate opinions, statutes, court rules, and jury instructions in New Mexico courts?
Disposition
- The Supreme Court of New Mexico adopted vendor-neutral citations as the official citation format for appellate opinions, statutes, court rules, and jury instructions in New Mexico courts.
Reasons
Per Chief Justice Gene E. Franchini (Justices Joseph F. Baca, Pamela B. Minzner, Patricio M. Serna, and Dan A. McKinnon, III, concurring):
The Court emphasized the importance of adopting a standardized, vendor-neutral citation system to enhance accessibility and uniformity in legal references. The decision included the following key points:
Implementation of Vendor-Neutral Citations: The Court ordered that vendor-neutral citations be used for appellate opinions, statutes, court rules, and jury instructions. This system would apply to all pleadings and papers filed in New Mexico courts.
Withdrawal of Provisional Order: The Provisional Order issued on August 15, 1997, was withdrawn, and the new citation system was made effective immediately.
Publication of Citations: The Supreme Court clerk and the official reporter of appellate opinions were directed to include vendor-neutral citations in the headers of all appellate opinions. This system applies to cases filed on or after January 1, 1996.
Citation Guidelines: The Court provided detailed instructions for using vendor-neutral citations alongside state and regional reporters, as well as for pinpoint citations using paragraph numbers. The Bluebook (16th ed., 1996) was adopted as the official citation reference, except where inconsistent with this order.
Statutes, Rules, and Jury Instructions: The Court clarified the format for citing New Mexico Statutes Annotated, court rules, and uniform jury instructions, ensuring consistency across all legal documents.
The Court concluded that the adoption of vendor-neutral citations would modernize and streamline legal citation practices in New Mexico, benefiting the legal community and the public.