The CJA Plan for the Western District of Washington Established a Standing Committee to Oversee the Criminal Justice Act Panel. The Plan provides:
1. A CJA Standing Committee will be established by the Federal Public Defender Office in consultation with the Court to assist the Court in the selection, oversight, and management of CJA Panel members. The CJA Standing Committee may establish subcommittees that include non- members to address specific CJA-related issues such as recruiting panel members, training, mentoring, reviewing complaints, and reviewing voucher reductions.
2. At a minimum, the CJA Standing Committee must consist of: a. the Federal Public Defender or delegate, who will be a permanent member of the CJA Standing Committee; b. the district’s current PADR or delegate, who will be a permanent member of the CJA Standing Committee; c. two or more criminal defense attorneys, at least one of whom is a CJA Panel member; d. the CJA Resource Counsel, who shall serve as an ex officio member of the CJA Standing Committee.
3. Except for the Federal Public Defender, PADR, and CJA Resource Counsel, members will serve for three years and may be extended for one additional three-year term. Terms will be staggered to ensure continuity on the CJA Standing Committee and rotation of members. Vacancies will be filled upon recommendation of the remaining committee members and approval by the Chief District Judge.
4. The CJA Standing Committee will meet at least twice a year and at any time the Court or a committee member asks the committee to consider an issue.
B. Duties
1. CJA Panel Membership. The CJA Standing Committee will examine applications for appointment or reappointment to the CJA Panel and recommend to the Chief District Judge approval of those attorneys deemed qualified to serve on the CJA panel, as provided in Sections VIII.C and VIII.D. The committee will also recommend removal of any CJA Panel attorney who fails to satisfy the requirements of panel membership, including failing to provide high quality representation, or engages in conduct that would render continued panel service inappropriate. See also Section VIII.E.
2. Recruitment. The CJA Standing Committee will strive to establish and maintain a diverse CJA Panel of the highest caliber federal criminal defense practitioners. In conjunction with a mentoring program, the Committee will devise a recruitment strategy that identifies and trains a diverse set of viable panel applicants.
3. Mentoring. The CJA Panel Committee will collaborate with the Defender Organization to administer a mentoring program to help prepare viable panel candidates by pairing experienced practitioners with attorneys new to federal criminal practice. Mentoring program participants will be compensated. See Appendix A
4. Training. The CJA Standing Committee will assist the Federal Public Defender Office in devising and presenting training programs for the CJA Panel.
5. Voucher Review. The CJA Standing Committee will be available to review and make a recommendation on CJA payment voucher the presiding judge or designee is considering reducing for reasons other than mathematical errors. The presiding judge or designee will, at the time the voucher is submitted to the CJA Standing Committee, provide a statement describing questions or concerns they have with the voucher. Counsel will be notified of the potential voucher reduction and given the opportunity to provide relevant information or documentation. See Section XI.E.
6. Annual Report. Annually, the committee will review panel operation and administration for the preceding year and provide a report to the Chief District Judge describing efforts to recruit qualified and diverse panel members, any proposed changes to panel size, any recurring issues or difficulties panel attorneys or their clients encounter, and any other operating difficulties, along with recommendations for appropriate changes.
Members And Terms;
Corey Endo, Federal Public Defender
Kristen Murray, CJA Panel attorney (until April 2028), Second Term
Gilbert Levy, CJA Panel attorney (until September 2028), First Term
Cooper Offenbecher, CJA Panel attorney (until March 2027), Second Term
Emma Scanlan, CJA Panel attorney, Panel Attorney District Representative
Carlos Santiago, CJA Panel attorney (until September 2028), First Term
Raymond Denecke, CJA Coordinating Attorney (ex-officio)