Under the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. §3006A, all persons charged with federal criminal offenses who are financially unable to obtain counsel are entitled to appointment of counsel to represent them. Each United States district court, with the approval of the judicial council of the circuit, has in operation throughout the district a plan for furnishing representation for any person financially unable to obtain adequate representation in accordance with this section. Representation under each plan shall include counsel and investigative, expert, and other services necessary for adequate representation. The Guide to Judiciary Policy-Volume 7: Defender Services (Part A) outlines the role of the courts in this service.The CJA plan in the Northern District of New York is defined in the district's General Order 1.
Becoming a CJA Attorney
To become a CJA attorney you must first be admitted to the Northern District of New York. Please see our Attorney Admissions page for details. Once you are admitted we recommend you submit an Application (web form) to the court along with a writing sample.
Once your application is submitted it is reviewed by a committee known as the CJA Panel Committee. The committee will evaluate and vote on each of the applicants. Their recommendations are then reviewed and voted upon by the Board of Judges for the Northern District of New York in their quarterly meetings which are held in March, June, September and December each year.The CJA attorney application process may take up to 3-4 months to complete. Please take these time frames into consideration when submitting your application in order to allow for sufficient processing time.
After the application and review process are complete you will receive a letter and additional information from the Clerk of Court determining your status with the CJA panel. Please note - it is a privilege, not a right, to serve as a CJA panel attorney in the Northern District of New York.
CJA eVoucher The Court is now using the CJA payment system called eVoucher. Check this site often
CJA Attorney Acknowledgment Form (Form must be submitted to court by any attorneys using CJA eVoucher. Form must be submitted using Internet Explorer) Internet Browsers- eVoucher is compatible with the following web browsers:
CJA eVoucher Electronic Learning Modules (ELMs): |
Rates & Compensation
The current mileage rate is 53.5 cents per mile ($0.535/mile) (as of 1/1/2017)
Important Audit Information
CJA Panels of the District and Circuit Courts of the Second Circuit are required to maintain contemporaneous billing records for all work performed on CJA cases to which they have been assigned, including work performed by associates, partners, support staff, as well as expense records. CJA counsel are required to maintain these records for a period of no less than three years for audit purposes. For more information view this Notice from the court.
Hourly Rates - Current (Effective 1/1/2016)
If case is a NON-CAPITAL cas | $129.00/hr |
If case is a CAPITAL case | $183.00/hr |
Hourly Rates - Historical
Date Range | In-Court | Out-of-Court |
Prior to 1/1/2000 | $65 | $45 |
1/1/2000 - 3/31/2001 | $70 | $50 |
4/1/2001 - 4/30/2002 | $75 | $55 |
5/1/2002 - 12/31/2005 | $90 | $90 |
1/1/2006 - 5/19/2007 | $92 | $92 |
5/20/2007 - 12/31/2007 | $94 | $94 |
1/1/2008 - 3/10/2009 | $100 | $100 |
3/11/2009 - 12/31/2009 | $110 | $110 |
1/1/2010 - 8/31/2013 | $125 | $125 |
9/1/2013 - 2/28/2014 | $110 | $110 |
3/1/2014 - 12/31/2014 | $126 | $126 |
1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015 | $127 | $127 |
1/1/2016 - | $129 | $129 |
Case Compensation Maximums (Counsel & Non-Capital) - As of 1/1/2016
Felony (including pre-trial diversion of alleged felony) | $10,000.00 |
Misdemeanor (including pre-trial diversion of alleged misdemeanor) | $2,900.00 |
Proceeding under 18 U.S.C. § 4106A | $2,100.00 |
Proceeding under 18 U.S.C. §§ 4107 or 4108 (for each verification proceeding) | $2,900.00 |
Proceeding under 18 U.S.C. § 983 | $10,000.00 |
Post-conviction proceeding under 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241, 2254 or 2255 | $10,000.00 |
Proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 1875 | $10,000.00 |
Appeal (from felony, misdemeanor, proceeding under 18 U.S.C. § 4106A ,18 U.S.C. § 983, post-conviction proceeding under 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241, 2254 or 2255, and 28 U.S.C.§ 1875) | $7,200.00 |
Other representation required or authorized by the CJA (including, but not limited to probation, supervised release hearing, material witness, grand jury witness) | $2,100.00 |
Appeal of other representation | $2,100.00 |
Case Compensation Maximums (Non-Counsel & Non-Capital)
**Note: with prior authorization, the maximum applies separately for each service provider; without prior authorization, the maximum applies to the aggregate compensation (excluding expenses) claimed by all services providers combined, not to each service provider individually.
With prior court authorization | $2,500.00 |
Without prior court authorization | $800.00 |
Case Compensation Maximums (Non-Counsel & Capital)
For capital representations commenced, and capital appeals perfected on or after April 24, 1996, there is a waivable limit of $7,500. The $7,500 limit applies to the total payments for investigative, expert, and other services in a case, not to each service individually.
Forms and Additional Links
- Office of the Federal Public Defender NYN
- Office of the Federal Public Defender NYN Library
- Office of Defender Services
- National CJA Voucher Reference Tool
- Travel Regulations
- Mileage Rates
- Hourly Rates
- Case Compensation Maximums (Counsel & Non-Capital)
- Case Compensation Maximums (Non-Counsel & Non-Capital)
- Case Compensation Maximums (Non-Counsel & Capital)
- Cost-Containment Initiatives regarding CJA Service Providers