This code produces a correct result, but gives an error message:
Clear[l, CI]
2 CI[{{2, 2}}] + 2 CI[{{1, 2}, {2, 1}}] /. CI[l_] -> j^(Total[l][[2]])
Total::normal: Nonatomic expression expected at position 1 in Total[l].
Part::partw: Part 2 of Total[l] does not exist.
2 j^2 + 2 j^3
Is there an easy way to eliminate the error message?