The Criminal Justice Act (CJA) provides for legal services for any person charged with a federal crime who is financially unable to afford counsel.  If the court determines that a person is eligible for appointment of counsel, either the Federal Public Defender or an attorney in private practice compensated under the CJA Plan is appointed. 

The CJA panel is a group of qualified and court-approved attorneys who are appointed by the Court to represent individuals in criminal cases who are unable for financial reasons to retain counsel.  Like Federal Public Defenders, CJA panel attorneys have access to investigators, interpreters, experts, and other resources to provide excellent representation.  CJA panel attorneys most commonly represent defendants in drug and firearm cases, but also in fraud, immigration, sexual abuse, and other cases.  Currently, the rate of pay for CJA panel attorneys is $177 per hour.  CJA panel attorneys are paid for travel time and receive a mileage reimbursement.

There are separate CJA panels at each of the federal court points in the Northern District of Iowa (Cedar Rapids and Sioux City).  

There is a need for new attorneys to apply to the CJA panels to represent indigent federal criminal defendants.  CJA panel attorneys have the opportunity to serve the public by protecting the constitutional rights of indigent defendants.  In turn, CJA panel attorneys benefit from the experience in federal court, which occasionally involves jury trials.  Even attorneys who practice mostly in the civil arena are encouraged to apply. 

For attorneys with little or no federal experience and/or criminal experience, there is a training CJA panel.  Training panel attorneys represent defendants under the supervision of a more experienced attorney.  Once a training panel attorney has gained experience, she or he may graduate to the regular CJA panel.

The CJA Committees will meet later this year to consider new applications to the panel.  Applications are available at the Federal Public Defender website at https://fpd-ias.org/fpd-ias-cja.  At that link, you will also find this district’s CJA plan.

Applications for this year are due by the close of business on November 2, 2026.  If you have any questions, please contact Federal Public Defender Brad Hansen at brad_hansen@fd.org.