Representation Under the Criminal Justice Act | Federal Public Defender

Under the 1964 Criminal Justice Act (CJA), we have a hybrid system of representation consisting of panels of private attorneys and federal public defender offices. Together, panel attorneys and public defenders make up the Federal Defender Organization. The panels are composed of experienced, respected, well-resourced criminal-defense attorneys who have been selected by their peers and the Court and are paid through the CJA system. Like federal public defenders, panel attorneys have access to investigators, interpreters, experts, and other resources to provide excellent representation.

Each judicial district is required to implement the mandate of the CJA through a local plan. The Kansas plan is here. In Kansas, the panel is administered by CJA Resource Counsel Jim_Pratt@fd.org, who is an employee of the Kansas Federal Public Defender. Resource Counsel and the CJA Administrator arrange for the rotational distribution of cases when counsel is appointed under the CJA; assist panel counsel with identifying and obtaining resources; review all requests for funding prior to submission to the Court; provide training and education; and review all requests for compensation and reimbursement for technical compliance and reasonableness.

Panel Information

CJA Panel Roster

Applications for new CJA panel members are considered each June by the CJA Selection Committees. All applicants are notified prior to the first of July, which is the beginning of the panel terms. All panel appointments are for a three-year period.

If you are not currently on the panel, and would like to apply, here is the CJA panel application form.

If you are currently on the panel but your term is expiring, here is the CJA panel reapplication form.

Applications are accepted all year long. The deadline for applications for the upcoming appointment period is May 1, 2026. Please send your completed application to dana_burton@fd.org.