Opinion ID: 220480
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Cost-of-Living Increase

Text: [A]ttorney fees shall not be awarded in excess of $125 per hour unless the court determines that an increase in the cost of living or a special factor, such as the limited availability of qualified attorneys for the proceedings involved, justifies a higher fee. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(A)(ii). The Petitioners calculate their fees at a rate of $150 per hour a $25 increase over the statutory rate. They explain that the upward adjustment is appropriate in light of the scarcity of free legal representation for asylum seekers and the increase in the cost-of-living. The Government does not oppose a cost-of-living increase, but it opposes an enhancement of fees on any other basis. Given that a $150-per-hour rate is much in line with recent cost-of-living adjustments granted by courts of appeals in EAJA cases, see, e.g., Tchemkou v. Mukasey, 517 F.3d 506, 512 (7th Cir.2008) (finding $161.85 appropriate), and given that the Government does not oppose a cost-of-living increase, we conclude that the $150-per-hour rate here sought is justified on cost-of-living grounds, and express no view as to the other bases for the rate proffered by the Petitioners.