The Defender Services Office announces that there will be an increase to the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel attorney hourly rates.
CJA Panel Attorney Hourly Rate Increase
The panel attorney hourly rates is increased from $172 to $175 for non-capital work and from $220 to $223 for capital work. The new rates apply to services performed on or after January 1, 2025. Where appointment of counsel occurred before January 1, 2025, the new hourly compensation rates apply to that portion of services provided on or after the effective date.
CJA Panel Attorney Case Compensation Maximums (in Non-Capital Cases)
Because of the increase in the non-capital hourly rate, the waivable case compensation maximum amounts for non-capital representations increase to:
Felony: $13,600 (previously $13,400)
Appeal: $9,700 (previously $9,600)
There are no case compensation maximums for appointed counsel in capital cases.
The new case compensation maximums apply to a voucher submitted by appointed counsel if that person furnished any CJA-compensable work on or after January 1, 2025. The former case compensation maximums apply to a voucher submitted by appointed counsel if that person’s CJA-compensable work on the representation was completed before January 1, 2025.