The plan for the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act of 1964 as Amended provides that a panel of private attorneys who are eligible and willing to be appointed to provide representation be maintained by the Clerk of Court. Applications for placement on the panel are available upon request from the Clerk of Court. Completed applications should be returned to the Clerk of Court who will present them to the CJA Panel Committee. The Committee meets to consider the applications and recommend to the court those attorneys qualified for placement on the panel. The court then approves attorneys for membership on the panel
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We are pleased that the 2010 edition of Defending a Federal Criminal Case. This is a newly released definitive guide, the two volume 2010 Defending a Federal Criminal Case, prepared by criminal defense practitioners and Assistant Federal Public Defenders from across the nation.  If you are appointed on a federal criminal case, copies will be available in each office for checking out and returning after the case is over.  Additionally we will be receiving the book on CD's and will mail you one to keep as long as the supply lasts.  If you would like to request a CD, please
... (read more).

New Litigation Support Page

Dear Defenders and CJA Panel Representatives,

I am pleased to announce the new Litigation Support page on the ODS-TB website at www.fd.org . It is our hope that it will be a resource for Defender staff and CJA panel attorneys when facing cases with large volumes of discovery and/or electronic discovery. The page can be found at http://www.fd.org/odstb_LitigationSupport.htm (if the link does not work, you can access it on the Litigation Support tab on the left side of the home page).

The page defines litigation support, provides contact information for the National Litigation Support Team, and contains links to the following resources:

1. A document defining common litigation support terms;

2. An Initial Discovery Assessment Checklist (Checklist) that helps you get started by asking relevant questions and identifying factors that can be useful when determining which resources may be needed to manage the discovery in your case;

3. Recommended E-Discovery Practices for FPD/CJA Attorneys (Recommended Practices) which lays out potential steps to take to effectively manage the discovery throughout your case; and

4. A Guide for CJA Panel Attorneys on Obtaining Litigation Support Resources .

The development of litigation support as a subspeciality within the civil litigation world is more frequently becoming a reality in the world of federal criminal defense. Many practitioners are finding it necessary to have effective technological tools, personnel who are knowledgeable about litigation support, and clearly defined processes to ensure quality management of discovery. I have attached two of the documents referenced above (the "Checklist" and the "Recommended Practices") as they provide brief introductions to these new realities.

We look forward to serving as a resource and working with you in meeting the challenges presented by these cases. Please feel free to contact the National Litigation Support Team if you need assistance.

Sean Broderick
National Litigation Support Administrator
Administrative Office of the United States Courts
Office of Defender Services
555 12th Street, Suite 650
Oakland, CA 94607-3627
510-637-1950 Direct
510-637-3500 General
510-637-3507 Fax
sean_broderick@fd.org

Recommended E-Discovery Practices

Initial Discovery Assessment Checklist

This 3 volume set is pricey (approximately $230), but it is the best resource for the defense of a Federal crime you will find.

Victor L. Buccola, Librarian
New Orleans Headquarters Library
600 Camp Street, Room 106
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
(w)-504.310.7728 (f)-504.310.8378
Email Victor for purchase

It is now available!

This three-volume, hard-bound edition was written by Federal Defenders, Assistant Federal Defenders, Criminal Justice Act Attorneys, and other experienced Federal Court practitioners from across the country.
It covers many of the traditional DFCC topics federal defense lawyers have come to rely on, from the Bail Reform Act to Prosecutorial Misconduct, from Jury Selection to Challenging Illegal Searches and Seizures. But this newest edition also has chapters on the hottest topics in federal defense, making it an essential text in any federal criminal defense lawyer's library.

Chapters new to this edition include: Foreign Law, Federal Sex Offenses, Common Constitutional Issues that Arise During Trial, International Border-Crossing Offenses, Mental Health Issues in Federal Criminal Practice, Plea Agreements, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and more!

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn about the newest developments in federal defense from leaders in the field!

Order your copy on-line . . . go to www.fdsdi.com/publications today!

To order by telephone, please call 1-866-405-1300 (open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST).

Elsa V. Perez
Assistant Paralegal
Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc.
225 Broadway Suite 900
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 234-8467 - Office
(619) 687-2666 - Fax
elsa_perez@fd.org
http://www.fdsdi.com

Congress recently passed, and the President signed into law on December 16, 2009, the
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 (Pub. L. No. 111-117), the spending measure which
includes fiscal year 2010 funding for the Judiciary. As detailed below, (1) the Congress
authorized and provided funds to increase the capital and non-capital hourly rates for Criminal
Justice Act (CJA) private “panel” attorneys; and (2) the change in the non-capital hourly rate
results in an adjustment to the attorney case compensation maximum amounts.

...(read more).