UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
312 NORTH SPRING STREET
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90012
TEL.: 213-894-8520
FAX: 213-894-8522
TO: CJA Attorney Panel
FROM: Randall W. Schnack, CJA Supervising Attorney
RE: Rates for CJA Appointed Experts
The Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit has established maximum billing rates for investigators, paralegals and law clerks. A range of hourly rates within the norm of rates paid in the Central District are listed below for other CJA appointed experts.
| PSYCHIATRISTS and other medically licensed mental health experts | $150.00-$275.00/hour |
| PSYCHOLOGISTS (Ph.D.) | $150.00-$200.00/hour |
| OTHER FORENSIC EXPERTS | $125.00-$200.00/hour |
| ATTORNEYS serving as experts in non-capital cases | $110.00/hour |
| ATTORNEYS serving as Strickland Experts in capital cases | $175.00/hour |
| ASSOCIATES | $71.00-$92.00/hour |
| MITIGATION EXPERTS | $75.00/hour |
| INVESTIGATORS | up to $75.00/hour |
| PARALEGALS | up to $45.00/hour |
| LAW CLERKS | up to $45.00/hour |
In addition to establishing the hourly rate, a cap must be set on the total amount authorized for expenditure. Both the rate and authorized amount should be clearly indicated in the court’s order. Please contact me at 213-894-8520 if you have any questions regarding this memorandum or any other CJA issue. |