United States District Court
For the Western District of Virginia
Criminal Justice Act Plan
I. Authority .................................................................................................................. 1
II. Statement of Policy ................................................................................................ 1
A. Objectives ............................................................................................................. 1
B. Compliance ........................................................................................................... 1
Ill. Definitions ................................................................................................................ 2
A. Representation ..................................................................................................... 2
B. Appointed Attorney ...............................................................................................2
C. CJA Administrator .................................................................................................2
IV. Determination of Eligibility for CJA Representation .......................................... 2
A. Subject Matter Eligibility .......................................................................................2
1. Mandatory ...................................................................................................... 2
2. Discretionary ..................................................................................................3
3. Ancillary Matters .............................................................................................4
B. Financial Eligibility ................................................................................................4
1. Presentation of Accused for Financial Eligibility Determination .......................4
2. Factual Determination of Financial Eligibility ...................................................6
V. Timely Appointment of Counsel ............................................................................ 7
A. Timing of Appointment ......................................................................................... 7
B. Court's Responsibility .........................................................................................7
C. Pretrial Service Interview ................................................................................... 7
D. Retroactive Appointment of Counsel................................................................. 7
VI. Provision of Representational Services .................................................................8
A. Federal Public Defender and Private Counsel ................................................... 8
B. Administration ...................................................................................................... 8
C. Apportionment of Cases ..................................................................................... 8
D. Number of Counsel ............................................................................................. 8
E. Capital Cases ...................................................................................................... 8
Revised March 2026
VII. Federal Public Defender Organization .................................................................8
A. Establishment ..................................................................................................... 8
B. Standards ........................................................................................................... 9
C. Workload ............................................................................................................9
D. Professional Conduct ......................................................................................... 9
E. Private Practice of Law .......................................................................................9
F. Supervision of Defender Organization ................................................................9
G. Training .............................................................................................................. 9
VIII. CJA Panel of Private Attorneys ......................................................................... 10
A. Establishment of the CJA Panel Advisory Committee ....................................... 10
1 . Executive Committee ..................................................................................10
2. Division Review Panels ............................................................................... 10
B. Duties of the CJA Advisory Committee ...........................................................11
1 . Meetings ..................................................................................................... 11
2. CJA Panel Membership ...............................................................................11
3. Recruitment.................................................................................................11
4. Annual Report ............................................................................................. 11
5. Removal ......................................................................................................12
6. Training ....................................................................................................... 12
7. Voucher Review ..........................................................................................12
8. Mentoring .................................................................................................... 12
IX. Establishment of a CJA Panel ............................................................................. 13
A. Approval of CJA Panel ......................................................................................13
B. Size of CJA Panel .............................................................................................13
C. Qualifications and Membership on the CJA Panel ............................................ 13
1. Application ..................................................................................................13
2. Equal Opportunity .......................................................................................13
3. Eligibility ......................................................................................................13
4. Appointment to CJA Panel ..........................................................................14
5. Terms of CJA Panel Members ....................................................................14
6. Reappointment of CJA Panel Members .......................................................14
7. Removal from the CJA Panel ......................................................................15
8. Appointment of Non-Panel Attorney ............................................................17
X. CJA Panel Attorney Appointment in Non-Capital Cases ............................... 17
A. Appointment List ...............................................................................................17
B. Appointment Procedures ..................................................................................17
XI. Duties of CJA Panel Members ............................................................................ 18
