Representation Under the Criminal Justice Act
The 1964 Criminal Justice Act (CJA) created a hybrid system of representation for qualified defendants that consists of both federal public defender offices and groups (panels) of private-practice attorneys. Together, panel attorneys and public defenders make up the Federal Defender Organization. CJA panels are composed of experienced, respected, well-resourced criminal-defense attorneys who have been selected by their peers and the Court. Panel attorneys are compensated through federal funding to represent qualified defendants that request court-appointed counsel Like federal public defenders, panel attorneys also have access to investigators, interpreters, experts, and other important resources that allow them to provide excellent representation.
Each judicial district is required to implement the CJA through a local plan. The U.S. Eastern District of Oklahoma (EDOK) CJA plan is available here. The EDOK CJA panel is administered by CJA staff who are employees of the EDOK Office of the Federal Public Defender. The CJA staff arranges for the rotational assignment of cases whenever the Court directs counsel be appointed under the CJA. CJA staff members also assist panel attorneys with identifying and obtaining resources; provide training and education; and conduct first-level review of all attorney and expert compensation requests.
CJA Panel Information
Applications to join the EDOK CJA panel are accepted year-round. Applicants must meet the criteria set forth in the EDOK CJA plan at section IX.C.3. Applicants who do not possess the required experience may also request assignment to the CJA training panel. CJA panel membership is for a three-year term and panel members are required to accept no less than one CJA appointment each calendar year. At the conclusion of a three-year term, CJA panel members who wish to remain on the panel for another term must submit a membership renewal application upon receiving notice from the EDOK CJA staff.
Initial applicants:
If you are not currently on the EDOK CJA panel and wish to be considered for admission, please complete the CJA panel application form. Please submit your completed panel application form and all supporting documentation as one consolidated .pdf to jasen_chadwick@fd.org.