Bullcoming v. New Mexico

Amicus curiae brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association in support of petitioner.

Brief filed: 12/06/2010

Documents

Bullcoming v. New Mexico

United States Supreme Court; Case No. 09-10876

Prior Decision

Decision below 226 P.3d 1 (N.M. 2010).

Argument(s)

At the petitioner’s trial for driving while intoxicated, the prosecution called an analyst who took no part in the testing of petitioner’s blood for alcohol content; the New Mexico Supreme Court held that blood alcohol analysis was a simple test in which the presence of the actual analyst was not necessary to interpret the results. This often-technical brief argues that blood alcohol testing using gas chromatography (GC) for analyzing blood alcohol involves exercise of the analyst’s judgment in interpreting results that presents a risk of error that can be discovered only through cross-examination of the analyst who ran the test; a proper cross-examination would include questions that only the actual analyst could answer.

Featured Products

Author(s)

Barbara E. Bergman, Univ. of New Mexico School of Law, Albuquerque, et al.

Explore keywords to find information

RECENTLY ADDED & UPCOMING

  1. The Champion
    /Nacdl/media/image_library/StayInformed/Champion/ChampionCovers/March-April-2025.jpg?ext=.jpg

    March/April 2025

    What are the evidentiary implications of field sobriety tests in marijuana cases? Does the odor of marijuana give officers probable cause to search a vehicle?

  2. Amicus Brief
    /Nacdl/media/image_library/Elements/global/amicus.png

    Jenner & Block LLP v. U.S. Department of Justice

    Brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and New York Council of Defense Lawyers as Amici Curiae in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment.

  3. News Release
    /Nacdl/media/image_library/Elements/global/newsrelease.png

    News Release ~ Law Enforcement Executive Order

    NACDL Warns Executive Order's Dangerous Overreach Undermines Community Safety and Trust in Police – Washington, DC (April 29, 2025) – The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) expressed deep concern regarding the Executive Order titled "Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens," cautioning that several of its proposals represent a dangerous overreach that undermines these goals by jeopardizing individual rights and the legitimacy of law enforcement in the eyes of the community.

  4. Event
    /Nacdl/media/image_library/Learn/nacdlcleinstitute/2025_Post-Dobbs_Trial_Tactics_2025-02-26_v02_Event-Listing_2.jpg?ext=.jpg

    Trial Tactics for Pregnancy-Related Cases: Skills for Every Defender

    LOCATION: The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, TX
    DATE: May 16-17, 2025
    COST: FREE (registration is required)
    CLE Credit: Up to 14.5 credits 

  5. Webinar
    /assets/img/nacdl_og.png

    Collaborative Approaches to Appellate Defense: Recognizing Clients' Legal Expertise

    WHEN: Thursday, May 8, 3:00-4:30pm ET / 12:00-1:30pm PT
    CLE CREDIT: not available
    COST: Free