Criminal Justice Act Information

  • Appellate CJA Plan
    In November 2024 the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals adopted a new Appellate Criminal Justice Act Plan establishing procedures for the appointment of counsel on appeal for persons who are financially eligible for representation at public expense in criminal or collateral-relief proceedings as provided in the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A. The new Appellate CJA Plan creates a formal court-approved panel of private attorneys eligible for appointment under the CJA when the federal defenders cannot or do not provide appellate representation. The Appellate Plan supplements the CJA plans in the district courts and incorporates the latest statutory requirements, policy guidance, and recommendations of the 2017 Cardone Report.

    The Plan establishes certain requirements for membership on the Appellate CJA Panel and creates an Appellate CJA Committee to assist the court with the selection, retention, and removal of panel members. See Plan, sec. III, IV. To be eligible for appointments on appeal under the CJA, a private attorney must be or apply to become a member of the Appellate CJA Panel. See Plan, sec. VI.A.; CIR. R. 46.1. The court may appoint a federal public defender, community defender, or a member of the Appellate CJA Panel to represent eligible defendants on appeal; in special circumstances the court may appoint a private attorney who is not a member of the Panel, but the appointed attorney is expected to apply for panel membership. See Plan, sec. VI; CIR. R. 46.1.

    Under the Plan and associated revisions to circuit rules, district-court appointments of counsel do not automatically carry over on appeal. Within 14 days of filing the notice of appeal, counsel for the defendant must move for appointment on appeal or to withdraw as the defendant’s counsel. See Plan, sec. VI.A; CIR. R. 46.1. The revised rules take effect on December 31, 2024. Starting in early 2025, the court will appoint counsel in CJA-qualifying appeals pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

    Revised Circuit Rules [effective December 31, 2024].
  • Application for Appellate CJA Panel membership
    The court accepts applications for membership on the Appellate CJA Panel throughout the year, and applications are reviewed periodically by the Appellate CJA Committee. The Committee is comprised of a judge of the court of appeals, two federal defenders within the circuit, and four private attorneys with experience litigating criminal appeals. The Committee reviews applications and makes recommendations to the court for admission to the panel.

    To qualify for panel membership, attorneys must: (1) be or become members in good standing of the bar of this court; (2) have a working knowledge of the Plan, the Seventh Circuit Rules, the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, the United States Sentencing Guidelines, and the habeas corpus and other collateral review provisions found in Title 28 of the United States Code (to the extent the attorney elects to accept appointment in these matters); (3) be willing to accept at least one appellate appointment each year; and (4) have the resources and technological capability to effectively and efficiently manage assigned cases.

    To apply for membership on the Appellate CJA Panel, please complete the application form found in the link below.

    Special note to attorneys willing to accept appointment to represent civil litigants on a pro bono basis: Please use the application form found in the link below to indicate your interest in accepting appointment to represent eligible civil litigants on a pro bono basis under the in forma pauperis statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1), and Pruitt v. Mote, 503 F.3d 647 (7th Cir. 2007) (en banc). Please complete the appropriate sections of the application form.

    Applications are now being accepted. Appointments pursuant to the new Appellate CJA Plan will begin early in 2025 when the court has approved an adequate number of panel members.






ELECTRONIC VOUCHER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (eVoucher)
  CJA eVoucher USER GUIDES:
 

OTHER CJA RESOURCES