The Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel is a group of qualified, court-approved attorneys that are eligible for appointment by the Court to represent individuals in criminal cases, who cannot afford retained counsel. Appointments are made on a rotational basis.

All applicants must have their principal place of business within the Southern District of West Virginia. There are four divisions in the district: Charleston, Huntington, Beckley, and Bluefield.

Attorneys who have federal criminal law experience are encouraged to apply for the CJA Panel. However, if you do not have the requisite federal criminal law experience, the CJA Training Panel is an excellent precursor to the CJA Panel and provides a great opportunity for attorneys to learn the fundamental skills that are essential to criminal practice at the federal level. The CJA Training Panel provides hands-on experience in federal criminal practice with a mentor from the CJA Panel or the Federal Public Defender’s Office.

Applications for the CJA Panel and Training Panel are accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, please fill out the following application and email it to the CJA Attorney Advisor.