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Attorneys who serve on the CJA Panel must be members in good standing of the federal bar of this district and have demonstrated experience in, and knowledge of, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Local Rules of this court, and the Sentencing Guidelines.

In addition, the attorney must:

1. in the twelve months prior to the date of application, attend (in person or by video) training or continuing legal education programs on federal criminal defense as follows:

   (1) persons either having served on the complex/major crimes panel (or the equivalent in another district) in the immediate past 3 years or having represented 6 criminal defendants in this district during this same time period must either attend all CJA training programs presented by the Federal Defender and/or Panel Selection Committee during that twelve month period or complete the minimum six hours set forth in subparagraph (2) below:

   (2) all other persons must attend a minimum of six hours of such training or continuing legal education programs, at least three hours of which shall be devoted to federal sentencing; said training programs to qualify subject to the approval of the Panel Selection Committee;

2. have professional liability insurance in the minimum amount of $100,000/$300,000; and
3. demonstrate a commitment to provide high quality representation to those individuals eligible for their services.

Satisfaction of these minimum eligibility requirements does not assure that an applicant will be selected to serve on the CJA Panel.

CRITERIA FOR PLACEMENT ON CJA PANELS

GENERAL SUBPANEL:

No minimum years of practice required.

FIRST RESPONSE, COMPLEX AND MAJOR CRIMES SUBPANELS:

Must meet all requirements as listed on the application including insurance and CLE requirements.

In order to be eligible to serve on these subpanels, each lawyer will:

1. Meet the threshold requirements listed below and
2. Accumulate at least 2 points from the flexible factors.

1. 3 years of practice which includes criminal defense or prosecution
2. 1 criminal case tried to a jury (state or federal case)

1. Number of cases tried to a jury (state or federal).
   1 point per jury trial (not including the threshold jury trial).
2. Number of years in practice in excess of 3
   1 point for each year in practice which included criminal defense or prosecution in excess of 3.
3. Number of defendants represented in federal court.
   1 point for each case which reached a disposition (not including the threshold jury trial).

In order to be on the major crimes subpanel, each attorney will be required to accumulate an additional 15 points from the flexible factors outlined above, with no more than 5 points each under factors 2 and 3.

** Satisfaction of these minimum eligibility requirements does not assure that an applicant will be selected to serve on the CJA Panel.

Members are appointed to serve two year terms, which shall commence on February 1 and run for two years thereafter. Members seeking readmission shall apply on or before December 31 of the year prior to the expiration of their membership term and shall use the CJA Renewal Application Form. Persons who are seeking to become a member of the CJA Panel, as well as current CJA Panel members who are requesting placement on a different subpanel, must use the CJA New Member/Subpanel Reclassification Application Form. While attorneys seeking to join the CJA Panel may submit an application at any time, the court reviews new applications on a quarterly basis: April, July, October & January.

1. Check off the panel(s) on which you wish to be placed.
2. If you are seeking a subpanel reclassification or are a first time applicant, please include a statement of experience and qualifications.
3. Verify, by checking the box, that you have completed the required CLE hours and check any other applicable boxes.
4. Sign, date and return both the appropriate Application and Payee Registration forms.

Please be careful to submit fully completed Application and Payee Registration forms, including the required attachments, or your application may be delayed and/or returned to you. You should send these completed documents to the following address:

United States District Court
55 Pleasant Street, Rm. 110
Concord, NH 03301-3941
Attn: Dan Lynch