Alabama Pardon and Expungements Blog

Articles Tagged with CJA

Andrew Skier to testify before Ad Hoc Committee to Review the Criminal Justice Act

January 31, 2016 | Skier & Associates

Andrew M. Skier, founder and lead trial counsel of Skier & Associates, has been invited by Committee Chair, Hon. Judge Kathleen Cardone, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, to testify before her Ad Hoc Committee to Review the Criminal Justice Act.

The purpose of this committee is to evaluate the effectiveness of current policies and governance structures and their impact on the appointment and compensation of counsel, quality of legal representation, program administration, and adequacy of funding.

Thoughts on the 50th anniversary of the Criminal Justice Act

March 6, 2014 | Skier & Associates

I was recently given the honor of being appointed to serve a second three-year term as CJA Panel Representative from the Middle District of Alabama. The CJA Panel is the group of private practice lawyers who are accepted by the Federal District Court to receive appointments to represent clients in that court. As CJA Panel Representative, my first task of the year was to attend the national conference in Alexandria, Virginia.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Criminal Justice Act, the landmark legislation that set up the system of appointed counsel in place today, allowing even those among us who are unable to afford legal representation will receive the competent, skilled assistance of a lawyer.

After attending the conference, I have a couple of thoughts that I would like to share.