(a) Application procedures. (1) Civilian attorneys may be prequalified as members of the pool of attorneys eligible to represent Accused before military commissions at no expense to the United States if, at the time of application, they meet the eligibility criteria set forth in 32 CFR 9.4(c)(3)(ii) as further detailed in this part, or they may be qualified on an ad hoc basis after being requested by an Accused. In both cases, qualification results in membership in the pool of available Civilian Defense Counsel.

(2) An attorney seeking qualification as a member of the pool of available Civilian Defense Counsel shall submit an application, by letter, to: Office of the General Counsel, Department of Defense, (Attn: Chief Defense Counsel, Office of Military Commissions), 1600 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1600. Applications will be comprised of the letter requesting qualification for membership, together with the following documents that demonstrate satisfaction of the criteria set forth in 32 CFR 9.4(c)(3)(ii) :

(i) Civilian Defense Counsel shall be United States citizens ( 32 CFR 9.4(c)(3)(ii)(A) ). Applicants will provide proof of citizenship (e.g., certified true copy of passport, birth certificate, or certificate of naturalization).

(ii) Civilian Defense Counsel shall be admitted to the practice of law in a State, district, territory or possession of the United States, or before a Federal court ( 32 CFR 9.4(c)(3)(ii)(B) ). Applicants will submit an official certificate showing that the applicant is an active member in good standing with the bar of a qualifying jurisdiction. The certificate must be dated within three months of the date of the Chief Defense Counsel's receipt of the application.

(iii) Civilian Defense Counsel shall not have been the subject of any sanction or disciplinary action by any court, bar, or other competent governmental authority for relevant misconduct ( 32 CFR 9.4(c)(2)(iii) ).

(A) An applicant shall submit a statement detailing all sanctions or disciplinary actions, pending or final, to which he has been subject, whether by a court, bar or other competent governmental authority, for misconduct of any kind. The statement shall identify the jurisdiction or authority that imposed the sanction or disciplinary action, together with any explanation deemed appropriate by the applicant. Additionally, the statement shall identify and explain any formal challenge to the attorney's fitness to practice law, regardless of the outcome of any subsequent proceedings. In the event that no sanction, disciplinary action or challenge has been imposed on or made against an applicant, the statement shall so state. Further, the applicant's statement shall identify each jurisdiction in which he has been admitted or to which he has applied to practice law, regardless of whether the applicant maintains a current active license in that jurisdiction, together with any dates of admission to or rejection by each such jurisdiction and, if no longer active, the date of and basis for inactivation. The information shall be submitted either in the form of a sworn notarized statement or as a declaration under penalty of perjury of the laws of the United States. The sworn statement or declaration must be executed and dated within three months of the date of the Chief Defense Counsel's receipt of the application.

(iv) Civilian Defense Counsel shall be determined to be eligible for access to information classified at the level SECRET or higher under the authority of and in accordance with the procedures described in Department of Defense Regulation, DoD 5200.2-R, “Personnel Security Program.” 1 ( 32 CFR 9.4(c)(2)(iv)

(A) Civilian Defense Counsel applicants who possess a valid current security clearance of SECRET or higher shall provide, in writing, the date of their background investigation, the date such clearance was granted, the level of the clearance, and the adjudicating authority.

(v) Civilian Defense Counsel shall have signed a written agreement to comply with all applicable regulations or instructions for counsel, including any rules of court for conduct during the course of proceedings ( 32 CFR 9.4(c)(2)(v) ). This requirement shall be satisfied by the execution of the Affidavit And Agreement By Civilian Defense Counsel at Appendix B to this part. The Affidavit And Agreement By Civilian Defense Counsel shall be executed and agreed to without change, (i.e., no omissions, additions or substitutions). Proper execution shall require the notarized signature of the applicant. The Affidavit And Agreement By Civilian Defense Counsel shall be dated within three months of the date of the Chief Defense Counsel's receipt of the application.

(3) Applications mailed in a franked U.S. Government envelope or received through U.S. Government distribution will not be considered. Telefaxed or electronic mail application materials will not be accepted. Failure to provide all of the requisite information and documentation may result in rejection of the application. A false statement in any part of the application may preclude qualification and/or render the applicant liable for disciplinary or criminal sanction, including under 18 U.S.C. 1001.

(b) Application review. (1) The Chief Defense Counsel or his designee shall review all Civilian Defense Counsel pool applications for compliance with 32 CFR part 9 and Military Order of November 13, 2001, “Detention, Treatment, and Trial of Certain Non-Citizens in the War Against Terrorism,” and with this part.

(2) The Chief Defense Counsel shall consider all applicants for qualification as members of the Civilian Defense Counsel pool without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or other non-disqualifying physical or mental disability.

(3) The Chief Defense Counsel may reject any Civilian Defense Counsel application that is incomplete or otherwise fails to comply with 32 CFR part 9 and Military Order of November 13, 2001, “Detention, Treatment, and Trial of Certain Non-Citizens in the War Against Terrorism,” or with this part.

(4) Subject to review by the General Counsel of the Department of Defense, the Chief Defense Counsel shall determine the number of qualified attorneys that shall constitute the pool of available Civilian Defense Counsel. Similarly, subject to review by the General Counsel of the Department of Defense, the Chief Defense Counsel shall determine the qualification of applicants for membership in such pool. This shall include determinations as to whether any sanction, disciplinary action, or challenge is related to relevant misconduct that would disqualify the Civilian Defense Counsel applicant.