In 1964, the CJA was enacted to establish a comprehensive system for appointing and compensating lawyers to represent defendants financially unable to retain counsel in federal criminal proceedings. The CJA authorized reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and payment of expert and investigative services necessary for an adequate defense. Federal defender organizations, together with the more than 10,000 private "panel attorneys" who accept CJA assignments annually, represent the vast majority of individuals who are prosecuted in our nation's federal courts.
The Judicial Conference of the United States promulgates policies and guidelines for the administration of the CJA, formulates legislative recommendations to the Congress, and approves funding requests and spending plans for the defender program as a whole and, through its Standing Committee on Defender Services, budgets and grants for each defender organization. The policies and procedures of the Judicial Conference for the operation of the CJA are set forth in its Guidelines for Administering the CJA and Related Statutes.
CJA Representative for the Western District of Oklahoma
Each federal judicial district has a CJA panel attorney representative. As the representative of all panel attorneys in the district, the CJA panel representative acts as the point of contact between panel members and other components of the judicial branch (Court, Federal Public Defender, Administrative Office of the United States Courts) with respect to the CJA program.
CJA Representative
Lance Phillips
7 S. Mickey Mantle Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
P: 405.235.4944
CJA Related Links
Appointment and Payment of Counsel
Announcement
The Western District of Oklahoma is seeking applicants for the Criminal Justice Act Trial Panel and Training Trial Panel in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Applications are due no later than March 28, 2025. Applications may be returned by mail, or emailed to:
Kim Taylor
CJA Panel Administrator
Suite 109 Old Post Office Bldg.
215 Dean A. McGee Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102
CJA Panel Application - PDF
CJA Training Panel Application - PDF