Chapter I. Appointment Process

Attorney appointments are made by U.S. magistrate judges. You will be notified by a courtroom deputy of your appointment to a federal criminal case. You must be prepared to be available on short notice for preliminary matters (e.g., initial appearances and detention hearings).

All appointments include representation on appeal and petitions for certiorari. If a conflict arises, you may be given permission to withdraw by the U.S. district judge presiding over the case.

See Chapter II of Volume VII of the Guide to Judiciary Policies and Procedures, for additional information on the appointment process.

Chapter II. Panel Management

A. Day-to-Day
The day-to-day operations of the Panel are managed by the District Clerk's Office. Procedural questions or problems related to the Panel may be directed to Karen Mitchell, Clerk, District Clerk's Office, at 214/753-2201.

B. Court Liaison Committee
The individuals listed below serve on the Court Liaison Committee. You may contact them to discuss CJA policy issues or matters that should be brought to the attention of the Court.

Chapter III. Training

Free training is offered annually to Panel members. Questions regarding training should be directed to Richard Anderson, Federal Public Defender, at 214/767-2746. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) also offers free training to Panel members on a regular basis. You will receive periodic notice of training opportunities.

Information contained in Chapters II and III of Volume VII of the Guide to Judiciary Policies and Procedures may also be very helpful. Copies of Chapters II and III can be found as Attachments I - 1 and VIII - 4 of this handbook.

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Chapter IV. Basic Steps of a Federal Criminal Case

The following outlines the basic steps of a federal criminal case. A notation of where each step is addressed in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure or the United States Code is also included, if appropriate.

1. Charge - complaint, information or indictment - (Rules 3 & 7, Fed. R. Crim. P.)
2. Arrest or Summons - (Rule 4, Fed. R. Crim. P.)
3. Appearance Before a U.S. Magistrate Judge - (Rule 5, Fed. R. Crim. P.)
4. Probable Cause Hearing - if no indictment - (Rule 5.1, Fed. R. Crim. P.)
5. Bond/Detention Decision - (18 U.S.C. §3142)
6. Detention Hearing - (18 U.S.C. §3142(e)(f)(g))
7. Arraignment - (Rule 10, Fed. R. Crim. P.)
8. Motions/Discovery Phase - (Rules 12 - 16, Fed. R. Crim. P.)
9. Motions Hearing - rare
10. Pretrial Conference - (Rule 17.1, Fed. R. Crim. P.)
11. Rearraignment, Guilty Plea/Trial - not guilty plea - (Rule 11, 23 - 31, Fed. R. Crim. P.)
12. Motion for New Trial - (Rule 33, Fed. R. Crim. P.)
13. Presentence Report Interview
14. Presentence Report - 10 day mandatory response time - (Rule 32, Fed. R. Crim. P.)
15. Presentence Report Addendum
16. Presentence Report Addendum Objections
17. Sentencing - (Rule 32, Fed. R. Crim. P.)
18. Self-Reporting
19. Appeal - 10 days from date of entry of judgment - (Rule 4(b), Fed. R. App. P.)
20. Certiorari Petition
21. Post Conviction Motions - (28 U.S.C. §2255)
22. Presidential Pardon

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