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Vol. 36, Number 4—April 2004 Conference Recognizes 40th Anniversary of CJA The Judicial Conference, at the recommendation of the Committee on Defender Services, endorsed a resolution recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the enactment of the Criminal Justice Act of 1964. Federal defender organizations and private CJA panel attorneys across the country now furnish over 140,000 representations per year to financially eligible persons. The Conference resolution read, in part, "By ensuring the fair treatment and effective representation of all persons accused of federal crimes, the Criminal Justice Act protects the rights and liberties of all citizens. The statute, and the defender program that it created, have become models for nations seeking to adopt the rule of law, including the right to the effective assistance of counsel, as part of their criminal justice systems. The federal Judiciary has been a proud steward over the Criminal Justice Act program, which has become a fundamental and critical component of the American criminal justice system."

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