CJA Plan I: Statement of Policy
Circuit Rules and Operating Procedures of the Seventh Circuit — Plan of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to Supplement the Plans of the Several United States District Courts within the Seventh Circuit
The Judicial Council recognizes that the successful operation of this plan will require the active and continual cooperation of members of the bar, appropriate bar associations and legal aid agencies. In particular, it is expected that the advice and assistance of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association will contribute greatly to the successful working of this Plan.
The judges, circuit executive, clerk, all federal public defender organizations and community defender organizations, and private attorneys appointed under the CJA should comply with the CJA Guidelines approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States and/or its Committee on Defender Services and with the Plan.
The payment of compensation to counsel under the Act, in most cases, probably will be something less than compensatory. Service of counsel by appointment under the Act will continue to require a substantial measure of dedication and public service. The responsibility of members of the bar to accept appointments and to serve in these cases is the same as it traditionally has been in the past and is in no way lessened by the passage of the Act. We have complete confidence in the professional integrity of the bar to fulfill this responsibility.
In the administration of this Plan, the Court will be particularly careful to safeguard against the opportunity for any charges of fiscal laxity, favoritism or other abuse which may cast a shadow on the general judicial system. The public funds involved will be expended with characteristic judicial responsibility.
It is deemed advisable at all times to coordinate efficiently the operation of this Plan with the several state courts to the end that there be a proper cooperation between the federal and state judicial systems.
The Court will welcome any proper and approved plan of cooperation whereby the services of advanced law school students may be made available to provide legal research assistance to appointed counsel, thereby to furnish such assistance to appointed counsel who may find it helpful and to broaden the interest and capabilities of law school students in the field of criminal law.
Finally, and most important, the Plan shall be administered so that those accused of crime will not, because they are financially unable to pay for adequate representation, be deprived of any element of representation necessary to enable them to have a fair opportunity to be heard on appeal in this Court.