District of Columbia Court of Appeals

NOTICE

Beginning June 1, 2015, the D.C. Court of Appeals will be accepting new and updated applications from qualified attorneys for inclusion on its Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel.  Applications are available at http://www.dccourts.gov/internet/legal/cja.jsf.

The CJA Panel is comprised of attorneys the court determines are eligible to be appointed to represent indigent appellants in criminal appeals. Decisions to accept new applicants and to continue current members of the CJA panel on the 2015-2016 CJA panel are at the discretion of the court.  Such decisions are based on the needs of the court, including the number of appeals filed, the complexity of the appeals, and the needs of the defendants.  One of the outstanding needs of the court is for bilingual attorneys.

Prior to submitting a new or updated application, applicants must read Miscellaneous Order No. M-217-03, which establishes a Continuing Legal Education requirement for attorneys on the CJA panel; the 2006 Notice to CJA Counsel Concerning the Annual CLE Requirement; and the memorandum titled "Obligations of Counsel."  These documents, along with other documents explaining various CJA issues, are available on the court’s website.  Submission of an application constitutes an acknowledgment and acceptance of the obligations of counsel.

Attorneys interested in joining the panel must submit four copies of a completed application, including four copies of the writing sample. Attorneys currently on the DCCA CJA panel who wish to remain on the panel must return a completed 2015 Application Update, and may also attach their 2015 CLE documentation if the CLE requirement is satisfied (submitting both the DCCA form and the attendance verification forms).

Completed applications and updates should be submitted to Rosanna Mason, Staff Counsel, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, Historic Courthouse, 430 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001.  Both the application and the update for current panel members include a waiver and release form that will permit the Office of Bar Counsel to release any disciplinary records on the applicant to the D.C. Court of Appeals.

All applications and updates must be received no later than July 17, 2015.  The court expects to notify successful applicants—both new applicants and current members who have reapplied—by the end of August 2015.