CIRCUIT CJA CASE BUDGETING ATTORNEY Job in Denver, CO

Vacancy No. 25E10 Department U.S. Courts
Salary $130,652.00 to $195,200.00 Grade 31 to 31
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/9/2025 Close Date 11/30/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Denver, CO


Summary

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.

Requirements

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.

Additional information

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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:

Review our benefits

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant professional, educational, and work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified in the Qualifications section above, required for this position.

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'

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply


Agency contact information

Human Resources

Next steps

Once you submit your application, we will assess your application and experience, identify the best qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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