District of Arizona CJA Resource Counsel

Denise K. Aguilar
Phone: 602-382-2700
Email: denise_aguilar@fd.org

Jessica Turk (Tucson)
Phone: 520-879-7500
Email: jessica_turk@fd.org

CJA Resource Counsel

  • Provides support to the CJA Panel
  • Acts as a liaison between the CJA Panel and stakeholders within the federal court system
  • Develops training and mentorship opportunities for the Panel
  • Chairs the CJA Panel Selection Committees
  • Advocates for the Panel and CJA clients on policy issues and procedures

District of Arizona CJA Panel Representatives

Corey Simon (Tucson)
Phone: 520-884-5105
Email: coreyar.simon@gmail.com

Carlos Brown (Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Yuma)
Phone: 480-788-3131
Email: info@carlosbrownlaw.com

Each district has a CJA Panel Attorney District Representative LINK to PDF, selected from among the members of the CJA panel, with the approval of the chief judge.

CJA Panel Attorney District Representatives

  • Lead their district CJA panel
  • Attend the annual National Conference of CJA Panel Attorney District Representatives
  • Serve as liaison between the CJA panel and the federal defender organization, the court and the AO’s Office of Defender Services
  • Comment on proposed legislation relating to the CJA
  • Work toward improving the quality of representation as well as the conditions under which panel attorneys provide representation

The Criminal Justice Act provides for the appointment of private lawyers to a panel of attorneys that the court appoints to represent indigent defendants in criminal cases. CJA attorneys are generally appointed when there is a conflict of interest within the Federal Public Defender's Office. CJA attorneys are experienced in criminal law and must be particularly knowledgeable about Federal criminal statutes and procedures. Their representation is free of charge to defendants who qualify for court-appointed counsel.

Guide to Judiciary Policy

Ch.1: Overview,
Ch.2: Appointment & Payment of Counsel,
Ch.3: Authorization & Payment for Investigative, Expert or Other Services,
Ch.5: Disclosure of Information on CJA-Related Activities, and
Ch.6:Federal Death Penalty and Capital Habeas Corpus Representations

Guide to Judiciary Policy Vol. 7 (AUG 2022)

CJA Rules and Forms

These policies and procedures represent the guidelines of the Judicial Conference of the United States for the administration and operation of the Criminal Justice Act (CJA). The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees an accused the right to representation by counsel in serious criminal prosecutions. Enacted in 1964, the CJA establishes a comprehensive system for appointing and compensating legal representation for accused persons who are financially unable to retain counsel in federal criminal proceedings.

CJA Plan (2/25)
PHX / FLG / YUMA Application (3/25)
Tucson CJA Application (3/25)
For the latest updates to the model CRIMINAL jury instructions, please refer to the online versions.
For the latest updates to the model CIVIL jury instructions, please refer to the online version.
CJA Panelist frequently used forms
3 Year CJA Reapp Form
CJA Annual CLE Certification
Authorization to Access CJA eVoucher Billing System
CJA Billing Guide (March 2023)
Ninth Circuit CJA Policies and Procedures (February 2024)
Ninth Circuit CJA Compensability Handbook (2/29/2024)
9th Circuit Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (December 2024)
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (December 2024)
Local Rules Master File (December 2024)
Federal Rules of Evidence (December 2024)
AO435 Transcript Request & Instructions (OCT 2023)