THE FIRST CIRCUIT Court of Appeals is currently accepting applications to serve on the court’s Criminal Justice Act ("CJA") panel. To be considered for membership on the CJA panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, an attorney must be a member of the bar of the court in good standing; must have a demonstrated knowledge of, and experience with, federal criminal law and appellate procedure; must have a commitment to indigent criminal defense; and must be willing to accept at least one CJA appellate appointment each year.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the First Circuit CJA appellate panel should submit three copies of

• a completed application form
• a resume
• an appellate brief and a copy of the court opinion that issued, preferably in a federal criminal or habeas corpus appeal

to the Clerk of Court, John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse, One Courthouse Way, Suite 2500, Boston, MA 02210. If you have not prepared a brief, you may substitute another writing sample.

Instructions and application forms may be downloaded from the court’s Web site at www.ca1.uscourts.gov under the "CJA Materials" button. They may also be obtained from the clerk of court. All current members interested in continued panel membership must reapply. Completed applications and attachments should be mailed to the clerk and must be received no later than June 13, 2003 at 5 p.m. It is anticipated that a reconstituted CJA panel will be put in place by the fall.

Applications will be reviewed by a CJA Panel Advisory Committee, which has been formed to assist the court by making recommendations. The committee is composed of members of the court staff, two attorneys from each of the five districts within the First Circuit, and a representative from each of the two Federal Public Defender offices in the circuit. Members include: Jane Lee, Esq.; David Bownes, Esq.; Peter Krupp, Esq.; C. Leonard O’Brien, Esq.; Francisco Rebello, Esq.; Manuel San Juan, Esq.; Brett Baber, Esq.; Donald Bronstein, Esq; Assistant Federal Public Defender Leo Sorokin; Anthony Traini, Esq.; Assistant Federal Public Defender Epifanio Morales-Cruz, Steven Gordon, Esq.; Deputy Circuit Executive Susan Krueger; Chief Deputy Clerk Mark Syska; and Staff Attorney Margaret Carter.

The First Circuit has recently approved a number of policy changes designed to support CJA appellate attorneys in their efforts, as well as to enhance the quality of criminal defense appellate representation. These steps include (1) court sponsorship of a one-day training program; (2) appointment of CJA panel members to three-year staggered terms, with the expectation that attorneys will typically be reappointed; and (3) implementation of a centralized voucher-review system. Further details as to these and related changes can be found on the court’s Web site under the "News Media" button.

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