Registration for the May 9, 2024 CJA Seminar will open on April 18th. Attendance is mandatory for every CJA Panel and CJA Mentee Panel Attorney. Other attorneys who practice primarily in the field of federal criminal law are also invited and registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis after all CJA Panel, CJA Mentee Panel, and Federal Public Defender slots are filled.

Plan & Order - The Criminal Justice Act Plan was revised in 2023 to include steps for submission and review of Mentee services for compensation, to include New Application/Renewal Application guidelines, and to create a Limited Appointment Group process for voluntary or involuntary placement into a reduced caseload group for an interim period. 

Application - Per the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Plan, applications are reviewed yearly, typically in September.  The application period for 2024 will open on May 15, 2024 and close on July 12, 2024.  During the process period, the application will be posted on the Court's website and published to all attorneys.

Renewal Application - As set forth in the Court's Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Plan, terms of CJA Panel Members are staggered. The renewal application period for 2024 will open on May 15, 2024.  CJA Panel Attorneys in the 2024 renewal group will be notified individually.   For those selected, new terms will begin in October 2024 and last through September 2025.  If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact Betty Ann Skrien at Betty_Ann_Skrien@moed.uscourts.gov.

New CJA Panel Attorneys Video - Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel attorneys are highly qualified, private attorneys appointed by a federal court to represent indigent defendants in criminal cases. A new video highlights the critical role that these lawyers play in protecting defendants' constitutional rights, including their rights to counsel under the Sixth Amendment. 

Annual CJA Materials:  2020 CJA Webinar; 2021 CJA Webinar; 2022 CJA Seminar; 2023 CJA Seminar