Despite Hurricane Sandy, six individuals participated in three days of alpha testing the eCJA VPS during the week of October 29, 2012. Hands-on testing consisted of performing system functions by user role which was successful, well received, and we obtained invaluable input. An additional alpha testing session will be conducted during the week of November 12, 2012, for those who were unable to attend the week of October 29.
Teleconferences are being held with each pilot organization to discuss training, data migration, business practices, and roles employed with the current paper-based system that will be refined to support the eCJA VPS. The pilot organizations are the First Circuit and Massachusetts District Court; the Fifth Circuit and Texas Eastern and Western District Courts; the Eighth Circuit and the Nebraska Federal Public Defender's Office, and the District Courts of Pennsylvania Middle and Arizona.
For more information, please contact ODS eCJA VPS Project Manager, George Drakulich or 202/502-3044 or John Fay or 202/502-1640.
February 24, 2012
To conform the CJA Panel Attorney Payment System with the federal defender Case Management System (CMS), it has been necessary to change the clemency representation codes for state clemency, from D5 to D7, and for federal clemency, from D6 to D8 (field 9 on CJA Forms 30 & 31 have been changed to reflect the change). No changes were made to the "stage of proceeding." Questions regarding this change may be directed to Mark Blaskey at 202-502-3030.
On June 30, 2011, the U.S. Sentencing Commission voted to give retroactive effect to its proposed permanent amendment to the federal sentencing guidelines that implements the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010. Both the amendment and the retroactivity provision became effective on November 1, 2011. New representation types of CK2 and AA2 have been created in order to capture CJA workload associated with appeals involving the retroactive application of the recent amendment. A new representation should be opened for these actions (CK2 for district court or AA2 for appellate court representations) with a case maximum for panel attorney compensation of $2,100. See Guide to Judiciary Policies and Procedures, Volume 7A, Guidelines for the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act and Related Statutes, paragraph 230.23.20.