CIRCUIT CJA CASE BUDGETING ATTORNEY

The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit is seeking applications from qualified persons for the position of Circuit CJA Case Budgeting Attorney. The Case Budgeting Attorney will work across the circuit to provide guidance, support, oversight, and training on Criminal Justice Act (CJA) matters. The Case Budgeting Attorney will offer case budgeting to courts and CJA panel attorneys and perform a wide range of other duties related to CJA case budgeting and voucher processing.

Duties

• Work with appellate, district, and magistrate judges, and CJA panel attorneys to develop and review budgets for criminal mega-cases and death penalty cases, including capital habeas corpus proceedings. Continuously monitor and review requests for attorney time, paralegal time, experts, investigations, and other costs, making recommendations for modification when appropriate.
• Assist judges with oversight of expenditures in capital cases, including review of pre- and post-authorization cost estimates and monitoring expenditures. Review funding orders and make recommendations to judges as to the reasonableness of the request and whether requested rates are consistent with CJA guidelines.
• Assist in development of model orders across the circuit. Provide policy and budget information to the courts and the Administrative Office. Develop and participate in training programs to educate the courts and CJA panel attorneys on case budgeting principles and procedures and serve on circuit and national committees concerning defender services. Advise and make recommendations to circuit judges for vouchers in excess of statutory maximums.
• Maintain and analyze a central database of budgets and expenditures to monitor compliance with budgets, provide a means of comparing budgets and expenditures, and furnish information as requested.

Salary

• $130,652 - $195,200/year

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident seeking U.S. citizenship.
• Excepted service appointments are "at will." Appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a high-sensitive executive level background investigation.
• Employees are subject to the Judicial Code of Conduct.
• Direct Deposit of pay required.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school, membership in good standing with a state bar, and a minimum of 5 years of experience consisting of criminal defense or habeas representation, including extensive experience and knowledge of CJA budgeting, billing practices and policy guidelines.
• Comprehensive understanding of the dynamics, costs, and impact of the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) as well as federal criminal law and criminal procedure.
• Thorough knowledge of criminal litigation defense strategies and experience in managing electronic discovery.
• Ability to analyze fees and budgets; write clear and concise reports; make effective oral presentations; and work and communicate effectively with judges and attorneys.
• Ability to work persuasively and tactfully with counsel and develop practical solutions to case management and budgeting issues. Ability to work under pressure and with deadlines.
• Skill in writing reports analyzing a wide range of data and statistics.
• Strong project management skills.

Education A J.D. from an accredited law school. Required Documents

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume, including 3 professional references.
3. One Writing Sample
4. Application for Judicial Employment (AO 78)

See 'How to Apply'

How to Apply

• Submit Cover Letter; Resume; One writing sample; and Application for Judicial Employment (AO 78) to HR@ca10.uscourts.gov.
• Indicate #25E10 in the subject line.
• Applications that do not include all required materials may not be considered.
• Applications reviewed as received and preferred by October 17, 2025. Position expected to start in November 2025.
• For the full vacancy announcement and application instructions, please visit: https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/hr/jobs/circuit-cja-case-budgeting-attorney-25e10.

Benefits The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals provides a wide range of benefits and choices so you can create a package to "BeneFit" your individual needs. Here is an overview of our comprehensive benefits package: