What are the responsibilities and job description for the CJA Appellate Panel position at U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. District Court Northern Illinois?
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT PANEL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
THIS APPLICATION IS FOR ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE APPELLATE APPOINTMENTS IN CRIMINAL APPEALS (18 U.S.C. § 3006A) OR IN FORMA PAUPERIS APPEALS (28 U.S.C. § 1915(E)(1))
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has adopted a new Appellate Criminal Justice Act Plan revising the procedures for appointment of counsel on appeal for persons who are financially eligible for representation at public expense in criminal or collateral-relief proceedings as provided in the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A. The Plan calls for the creation of a formal court-approved panel of private attorneys eligible for appointment under the CJA when the federal defenders cannot or do not provide appellate representation.
The court invites private attorneys to apply for admission to the new appellate CJA panel. Starting in 2025, the court will appoint counsel in CJA-qualifying appeals pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
The court accepts applications for membership on the Appellate CJA Panel throughout the year, and applications are reviewed periodically by the Appellate CJA Committee. To qualify for panel membership, attorneys must: (1) be or become members in good standing of the bar of this court; (2) have a working knowledge of the Plan (linked here), the Seventh Circuit Rules, the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, the United States Sentencing Guidelines, and the habeas corpus and other collateral review provisions found in Title 28 of the United States Code (to the extent the attorney elects to accept appointment in these matters); (3) be willing to accept at least one appellate appointment each year; and (4) have the resources and technological capability to effectively and efficiently manage assigned cases.
Special note to attorneys willing to accept appointment to represent civil litigants on a pro bono basis: Please use this application form to indicate your interest in accepting appointment to represent eligible civil litigants on a pro bono basis under the in forma pauperis statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1), and Pruitt v. Mote, 503 F.3d 647 (7th Cir. 2007) (en banc). Please complete the appropriate sections of the application form.