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.
Administration of Utah’s CJA panel of attorneys is within the Federal Public Defender’s office. The CJA Supervising Attorney for the District of Utah is Joanna Landau who can be reached through the office phone, or by email here: Contact me.
The CJA requires each district court to establish a plan for furnishing representation for any person financially unable to obtain adequate representation. The CJA Plan for the District of Utah and related information can be found here
CJA resources for current CJA panel members and prospective applicants
Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Guidelines and The Guide to Judiciary Policy
Defender Services has many CJA resources and information
eVoucher Logon for CJA panel attorneys and service providers.
eVoucher is the electronic CJA voucher system, which allows for the creation, submission and tracking of all CJA related vouchers and authorizations.
Local CJA Information
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 once or twice a year, as needed. Contact Joanna Landau to see if the applications are open. Applications must be submitted by December 1, for consideration to be on the CJA Panel for the following year. Attorneys interested in appointment to the CJA Panel must submit a completed application and email a writing sample and resume to UTX_CJA_Panelteam@fd.org (do not email applications).
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.
We are establishing a Second Chair Program for attorneys with less experience in federal court, but who have significant state court experience, and are willing to participate in the Second Chair Program before they apply for CJA Panel Membership.
Second Chair Program More information is HERE.
For CJA Attorneys
- 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
Utah CJA Resource Team Contact: Email UTX_CJA_Panelteam@fd.org or call the office
- Joanna Landau, CJA Resource Attorney
- Cynthia Olivares, CJA Administrative Assistant
- G. Fred Metos, CJA Panel Representative
299 South Main, Suite 1300, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111
Phone: 801-535-4350, Email: fred@gfredmetos.com