AI Generated Opinion Summaries

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 case involves a post-divorce dispute between the Petitioner (Mother) and the Respondent (Father) regarding child support and periods of responsibility for their three children. The issues arose from motions filed by both parties after the divorce decree.

Procedural History

• District Court, Bernalillo County: The district court addressed multiple post-divorce motions but did not resolve all issues raised by the parties. No final order was entered, and the court did not certify any partial decisions for immediate appeal.

Parties' Submissions

• Appellant (Mother): Argued that the appellate court should hear the appeal because the issues she raised were not intertwined with those still pending before the district court.
• Appellee (Father): [Not applicable or not found]

Legal Issues

• Whether the appellate court has jurisdiction to hear the appeal in the absence of a final order resolving all issues raised in the post-divorce motions.

Disposition

• The appeal was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction due to the absence of a final order or certification for immediate appeal.

Reasons

Per Castillo J. (Bustamante and Garcia JJ. concurring):

The court emphasized that appellate jurisdiction in civil cases requires a final order that resolves all issues or a certification under Rule 1-054(B)(1) NMRA. In this case, the district court had not resolved all issues raised in the post-divorce motions, nor had it certified any partial decisions for immediate appeal. The court rejected the Mother’s argument that the unresolved issues were not intertwined with those on appeal, citing New Mexico’s strong policy against piecemeal appeals. The court concluded that no exception to the final judgment rule applied, and therefore, it lacked jurisdiction to hear the appeal.