New Mexico Supreme Court

State v. Cates

October 24, 2022523 P.3d 570

Summary

The New Mexico Supreme Court reversed the district court’s grant of habeas relief, holding that a serious youthful offender sentenced to less than life imprisonment is not automatically eligible for meritorious deductions under the EMDA; eligibility requires an express grant by the sentencing court, and the habeas court lacked authority to amend the judgment to provide such eligibility.