CJA 27A

Guidance to Attorneys in Drafting the Memorandum for a Claim in Excess of the Case Compensation Maximum (Court of Appeals)

Agency
U.S. Courts
Revision
Rev. 03/12
Fillable fields
1
Pages
1
Official source
U.S. Courts form page
Checked
October 20, 2026
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Page 1 of form CJA 27A

CJA 27A: Guidance to Attorneys on the Excess Compensation Memorandum (Court of Appeals)

CJA 27A, Guidance to Attorneys in Drafting the Memorandum for a Claim in Excess of the Case Compensation Maximum (Court of Appeals), is a one-page CJA guidance sheet from the U.S. Courts, listed under Attorney Excess Compensation Claims. The PDF is dated Rev. 03/12, and the page lists it as effective on March 1, 2012.

It has no blanks to fill in. It quotes section 230.30(b) of the Guidelines for Administering the CJA and Related Statutes, Volume 7A, Guide to Judiciary Policy, which says that in any case in which the total compensation claimed is in excess of the statutory case compensation maximum, counsel will submit with the voucher a detailed memorandum. It then quotes how the Guidelines describe complex and extended cases, lists criteria for fair compensation, and offers topics for counsel's consideration.

This page explains the guidance in plain words and is not legal advice. You can open it free in your browser on this page and download it without an account.

Top of page 1 of CJA 27A: Guidance to Attorneys on the Excess Compensation Memorandum (Court of Appeals), as printed by COURTS

What's in CJA 27A

The memorandum rule

Section 230.30(b) is quoted: counsel will submit with the voucher a detailed memorandum supporting the claim that the case was extended or complex and that the excess payment is necessary to provide fair compensation.

Complex and extended cases

Section 230.23.40(b) is quoted: a case is complex if its legal or factual issues are unusual and need more time, skill and effort than an average case, and extended if more time is reasonably required for total processing than the average case.

Fair compensation criteria

Section 230.23.40(c) lists the magnitude and importance of the case, how duties were performed, the knowledge, skill, efficiency, professionalism and judgment required, the nature of counsel's practice and injury to it, extraordinary time pressure, and other relevant circumstances.

Topics on the appeal and record

The type of appeal, offenses and counts of conviction, the sentence, co-defendants, transcript size, trial days, other materials reviewed, district court representation and hours for obtaining and reviewing records.

Topics on briefs and petitions

Brief lengths and issues, research and writing hours, disposition before briefing, submission on the briefs or oral argument, rehearing or in banc petitions, and certiorari petitions, with counsel's documents attached.

Topics on complexity and expenses

Complex or novel legal issues, a complex fact pattern, issues researched but not written, issues briefed at the district court, any expense greater than $500 from items 17 and 18 of the CJA 20 voucher, and other noteworthy circumstances.

How to use CJA 27A

  1. 1

    Read the quoted guidelines

    The sheet opens with sections 230.30(b), 230.23.40(b) and 230.23.40(c), which describe the memorandum, the complex and extended standards and the fair compensation criteria.

  2. 2

    Pick the topics that apply

    The guidance says some topics may not apply to a particular case or may not be noteworthy for the memorandum, and that counsel may address topics other than those listed.

  3. 3

    Give numbers for the work

    Most topics ask for counts: pages, issues, trial days and co-defendants, and the hours claimed for records, research and writing, and oral argument preparation.

  4. 4

    Attach certiorari documents

    For a petition for a writ of certiorari, the guidance says to attach counsel's documents.

  5. 5

    Explain large expenses

    The guidance lists any expense greater than $500 as a topic, pointing to items 17 and 18 of the CJA 20 voucher.

  6. 6

    Submit with the voucher

    The quoted section 230.30(b) says counsel will submit the detailed memorandum with the voucher.

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Where it goes, fees and limits

Where the memorandum goes

The quoted guideline says counsel will submit the memorandum with the voucher. CJA 27A prints no address or court office.

Fee

The guidance does not print a filing fee. Its only dollar figure is the $500 expense topic.

Deadline

The guidance does not print a deadline.

Format

The U.S. Courts page offers CJA 27A as a one-page PDF with a Print button.

Related forms

Who is CJA 27A for?

  • Counsel claiming above the case maximum

    The quoted guideline covers any case in which the total compensation claimed is in excess of the statutory case compensation maximum, and says counsel will submit a detailed memorandum with the voucher.

  • Counsel in the court of appeals

    The title limits it to the court of appeals. The topics cover appeals from a guilty plea, a trial disposition, a habeas petition or other matter.

  • Counsel who handled the district court case

    One topic asks whether appointed counsel represented the client at the district court level and at trial, and another asks about issues already briefed at the district court.

  • Not a form anyone signs

    CJA 27A has no blanks or signature line. It says some topics may not apply to a particular case or may not be noteworthy, and that counsel may address topics other than those listed.

The guidance is written for counsel. It names these roles and situations.

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Questions about Form CJA 27A

Is CJA 27A a form to fill out?

No. It is a one-page guidance sheet with no blanks or signature line. It lists topics for counsel's consideration when drafting the memorandum.

When is the memorandum needed?

CJA 27A quotes section 230.30(b) of the Guidelines: in any case in which the total compensation claimed is in excess of the statutory case compensation maximum, counsel will submit with the voucher a detailed memorandum.

What makes a case complex or extended?

CJA 27A quotes section 230.23.40(b): a case is complex if its legal or factual issues are unusual and require more time, skill and effort than an average case, and extended if more time is reasonably required for total processing than the average case, including pre-trial and post-trial hearings.

Does every topic have to be covered?

The guidance says some topics may not apply to a particular case or may not be noteworthy for the memorandum, and that counsel may address topics other than those listed.

Is there a fillable form for this memorandum?

The U.S. Courts list CJA 27 in the same Attorney Excess Compensation Claims category. The CJA 27 PDF says it serves as counsel's memorandum required by section 230.30(b)(1) of the Guidelines.

Is there a district court version?

The U.S. Courts forms list includes CJA 26A, guidance to attorneys drafting the memorandum for a claim in excess of the case compensation maximum in the district court.

Is this page legal advice?

No. This page explains the guidance sheet in plain words.