FRESNO OFFICE
2300 Tulare Street, Suite 330
Fresno, CA 93721
Toll Free: 855-656-4360
TEL: 559-487-5561
FAX: 559-487-5950

SACRAMENTO OFFICE
801 I Street, 3rd floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Toll Free: 855-328-8339
TEL: 916-498-5700
FAX: 916-498-5710

WHAT IS CJA?

The Criminal Justice Act (CJA) provides for legal services for any person charged with a federal offense who is financially unable to obtain adequate representation. If the court determines that a person is eligible for appointment of counsel, either the Federal Public Defender or an attorney in private practice compensated under the CJA Plan is appointed. The Federal Public Defender is appointed to represent approximately 75% of the financially eligible federal defendants in the Eastern District of California. The remaining eligible defendants are represented by private attorneys who have qualified for appointment under the Criminal Justice Act panel. Attorneys selected for the federal panel must have demonstrated experience in, and knowledge of, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Federal Rules of Evidence, Sentencing Guidelines and the Local Rules. The application form and further information are set forth below.

The Federal Defender’s Offices in Sacramento and Fresno hold training programs for the attorneys who are on the federal CJA panel and provide Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credits for each seminar. There is no fee to attend and sessions are normally held in Sacramento on the third Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in the jury room on the fourth floor of the federal courthouse, 501 I Street, Sacramento, and in Fresno on the third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in the jury room of the U.S. District Court, 2500 Tulare St. in Fresno.