Criminal Justice Act Information
The Criminal Justice Act (CJA) was enacted in 1964. The CJA establishes a system for the judicial appointment and compensation for attorneys representing people who are financially unable to retain counsel in federal criminal proceedings, and requires every district to establish a plan for furnishing representation for people who are financially unable to obtain representation. The CJA Plan for the District of Utah and CJA Handbook are below. The Plan will be updated at least every five years, while the Handbook may be updated more frequently.
The CJA Team in the Utah Federal Public Defender's office administer Utah’s CJA panel of attorneys The CJA Team consists of the CJA Resource Attorney, Joanna Landau, and the CJA Administrator Bree Gowers, both of whom can be reached through the office phone: 801-524-4010.
CJA Resources
Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Guidelines and The Guide to Judiciary Policy
Utah CJA Handbook (updated 2025)
CJA Plan District of Utah 2023
Budgeting Help (for cases with more than 300 hours of attorney work).
- Electronic Budgeting Application for cases needing 10th Circuit Budgets
- CJA Attorney Quick Reference Guide to the EBA Process
- CJA 10th Circuit Budgeting Manual
- Case Budgeting and Requests for Services
eVoucher Info
eVoucher is the electronic CJA voucher system, which allows for the creation, submission and tracking of all CJA vouchers, authorizations, and payments.
eVoucher Logon for Utah's CJA Panel Attorneys and Service Providers. Register with login.gov before accessing eVoucher for the first time.
eVoucher Frequently Asked Questions
2_Adding an Authentication Method
4_Linking Your eVoucher Account to Login.gov
6_Creating a Vendor Management Account with an EIN
7_Creating a Vendor Management Account with an SSN
8_Role of the Authorized Agent in Vendor Management System
Video - ELM-Logging into Login.gov
Video - Importing time entries
Video - Linking to an existing Payment Account in Vendor Manager System
Video - Authorized Agent in Vendor Manager System
Video - Creating an EIN Payment Account in Vendor Manager System
Video - Creating an SSN Payment Account in Vendor Manager System
- eVoucher Training Videos
- Training Videos for Attorneys Created by the Court
- Training Videos for Experts
- Training Videos for Mentees
National Resources for CJA Attorneys
Traveling for work on a CJA case? GSA Travel
The eVoucher Attorney User Manual
The eVoucher Service Provider Manual
Applications to the Utah CJA Panels & Second Chair Program
If you are interested in applying to join the Utah CJA Panel in Salt Lake City or St. George, please contact Joanna Landau for information on how to apply.
Applicants must be members in good standing of the bar of the United States District Court and the Utah State Bar, and must have an interest in providing criminal defense representation with a strong reputation for effective representation of clients. Members of our CJA Panel are required to participate in six hours of training in federal criminal practice each year.
The United States District Court and Federal Public Defender for the District of Utah accepts applications to the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel of Attorneys, as needed. Contact Joanna Landau to see if the applications are open.
Applicants must be members in good standing of the Utah State Bar and the bar of the United States District Court. Applicants must have a strong reputation for competent and zealous representation, must have demonstrated federal experience, and a strong interest in providing criminal defense services to individuals who cannot afford counsel. If an attorneys lacks the requisite federal experience, s/he may apply to the Second Chair Program, which is a two year program designed to expose experienced attorneys to federal criminal defense practice. Interested applicants to the Second Chair Program should apply as outlined above.
Second Chair Program: Utah has a Second Chair Program for attorneys with significant state court criminal defense experience, but want more federal court experience. Attorneys should apply using the CJA Application above, noting their interest in participating in the Second Chair Program.
Second Chair Program information is in the CJA Handbook.
Utah CJA Team Contact: Call the Utah Federal Public Defender Office: 801-524-4010
- Joanna Landau, CJA Resource Attorney
- Bree Gowers, CJA Administrator
- Jon D. Williams, CJA Panel Representative
9 Exchange Place, Suite 600, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111