The CJA Guidelines (Volume 7, Part A, Guide to Judiciary Policy)

The Judicial Conference of the United States has approved the Guidelines for Administering the CJA and Related Statutes (CJA Guidelines). The CJA Guidelines are published in the Guide to Judiciary Policy, Volume 7, Part A (Guide).

Volume 7, Part A, sets forth Judicial Conference policy on:

• appointment of counsel under the CJA and related statutes;
• payment of private “panel” attorneys;
• authorization and payment for services other than counsel in federal criminal representations; and
• policies specific to federal defender organizations. [Guide, Vol. 7, § 120]

Quick Links to Volume 7 by Subject Matter are as Follows:

• Chapter 1 - overview of the Defender Services program and the CJA and related statutes.
• Chapter 2 - appointment and payment of counsel.
• Chapter 3 - authorization and payment for investigative, expert, and other services employed on behalf of defendants.
• Chapter 4 - policies specific to federal defender organizations.
• Chapter 5 - procedures pertaining to the disclosure of information on CJA-related activities.
• Chapter 6 - appointment and compensation of counsel, and the authorization and payment for investigative, expert, and other services in federal death penalty cases and capital habeas corpus representations.

Volume 7, Part A also includes, among other information, a link to relevant forms (Chapter 1), Model Criminal Justice Act Plans (Appendix 2A and Appendix 2B), and the grant and conditions document for CDOs (Appendix 4A).