Cynthia Hujar Orr

Cynthia Eva Hujar Orr has attained national prominence defending citizens and entities in state and federal trial and appellate courts. She is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal Law and Criminal Appeals. She serves on the Texas Board of Law Examiners and the Texas State Bar District 10 Grievance Committee.

She is the current President of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law where she leads the Society’s international law scholarship and the presentation and study of reforms in criminal law globally.  She has earned the profound respect of her colleagues in the United States who elected her to Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Criminal Justice Section in 2014.

Cynthia served as President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers from 2009-2010 and is currently the President of its Criminal Justice Foundation that supports criminal justice education and reforms nationally. She was President of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association in 2003, and became the first President of the San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association in 1999. She currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit.

In the local community, Cynthia is a member of the San Antonio Bar Association and the SABA Federal Courts Committee. She is also the CJA Panel Rep for the Western District of Texas and is on the San Antonio Bar Association’s Federal Courts Committee – Criminal Law. She was also  inducted as a Fellow in the American Board of Criminal Lawyers in 2018.

She is a member of the San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce. Cynthia is an inductee into the San Antonio Woman’s Hall of Fame for Law and in the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2022. She is co- founder of the Texas Innocence Network, the San Antonio Minority Business Accelerator and the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Women’s Opportunity Week. Cynthia is listed in The Best Lawyers in America as recognized by BL Rankings and is listed as the Best 100 Trial Lawyers in Texas by The National Trial Lawyers. She has been a Texas Super Lawyer  for twenty years as determined by Thompson Reuters from 2003 t0 2023. She has an AV rating by Martindale Hubbell.

Cynthia obtained the first confession of error by the State of Texas in a death penalty case. She was counsel on the Amicus brief in CNN vs. General Manuel Noriega before the United States Supreme Court where she successfully defended this unpopular defendant’s attorney-client privilege and won Moreno -Gonzalez vs. U.S., No. 07-400 (2008) in the United Supreme Court holding that the mere hiding of money transported across the border does not constitute money laundering. She is most active advocating criminal justice reforms.

A 1979 undergraduate of the University of Texas at Austin and 1988 graduate of St. Mary’s University Law School, Cynthia began her career clerking for “Retired” Fifth Circuit Judge Emilio Garza when he was on the District Court bench in San Antonio, Texas. She is proficient in trial, appeals, writs of habeas corpus, petitions for discretionary review, writs of certiorari, mandamus, and prohibition. Her breadth of experience with each vehicle compliments her other strengths, making her a effective and experienced advocate.

• Texas, 1989
• U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1989
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1990
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1990
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1991
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1991
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1992
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1996
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 2004
• U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia 2020

• St. Mary’s University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas, 1988 J.D.
• University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 1979 B.B.A. Baylor University, Waco, Texas

• San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Founder, Past President 1999
• Federal Courts Committee –1999-Present, Criminal Justice Act Representative for the Western District of Texas
• The San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce
• American Bar Association, 1988 – Present
  • Chair, Criminal Justice Section, 2014
  • Representative, House of Delegates for NACDL, 2011 – Present
  • Criminal Justice Section Ad Hoc Innocence Committee to Ensure the Integrity of the Criminal Process, 2002-2008
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, President 2003 – 2004
  • On the Board of Directors of Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Education Institute
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1988 – Present
  • President, 2009 – 2010
  • Current President Criminal Justice Foundation
• William S. Sessions American Inn of Court, 2001 – Present
• Texas Innocence Network, Co-Founder, 2000
• Current President International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law
• Board of Law Examiners-2015 to present
• Texas State Bar Grievance Committee District 10, Panel 3 Chair
• Bar Association for the Federal Fifth Circuit, Board of Governors

• Texas Super Lawyers as recognized by Thompson Reuters, Texas Monthly, 2003 – Present
• Won First Confession of Error in a Capital Murder Case in TX, 2000
• Inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame in Law, 2006
• Best Lawyers in America White Collar Crime & Appellate, 2006 – 2009
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Texas, American Association for Justice, 2007 – Present
• Best Lawyers in America, 2005 – Present
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Presidential Award, 1994 – 1998, 2000-2001, 2003, 2012, 2021, 2022
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Board Resolution re: Cynthia Hujar Orr’s contribution to justice in the United States, July 31, 2009
• Presidential Recognition by National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1999 – 2004, 2007-2008
• San Antonio Bar Association Presidential Award, 1998
• San Antonio Bar Association Presidential Award “Outstanding Service”, 2010
• San Antonio Business Journal: Women’s Leadership Award for Mentoring, 2009
• Featured in Texas Monthly by Thompson Reuters Chosen as a Texas Super Lawyer by Peers, 2003 – Present
• Featured in Scene in SA Monthly Chosen as One of the Best Lawyers in San Antonio by Peers, 2004 – Present
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubble, 2006 – Present
• Recipient of the first Minuteman Strike Force Award by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2012
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Robert Heeney Award 2014
• Recipient of the first Spirit of Justice Award by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2012
• St. Mary’s School of Law Distinguished Law Graduate 2019
• American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, Charles English Award 2021
• Texas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Hall of Fame 2022

Until Proven Innocent, Documentary on the Hannah Overton case, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5105774/

The Dr. Phil Show, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eNnxr-rrNg

ABC News 20/20, https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-mother-murder-conviction-overturned-receive-500k-state/story?id=53578422

Katy Couric Show, https://www.google.com/search?q=katy+couric+hannah+overton&oq=katy+couric+hannah+overton&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i10i160l2.12065j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:bbbef59f,vid:eGWSG94sr-Y

Dateline, the Overlook, https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/video/full-episode-the-overlook-82398789866

Inside Edition, The Dixon Case, https://www.insideedition.com/new-details-emerge-alleged-murder-hire-plot-against-texas-dr-joseph-sonnier-51250

Documentary, Not too Young to Die, Folke Ryden, Reporter, Director, Producer about Miguel Martinez, Texas’ Youngest Person on Death Row, https://folkeryden.com/laredo-the-law/

Action 10 News, CBS News, David Strickland Could Get a New Trial, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h1rEBexdak

KSAT 12, ABC News, Lymphedema Treatment Act will Cover What Health Insurance Does Not, https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2023/02/02/lymphedema-treatment-act-will-cover-what-health-insurance-doesnt/

• Moreno-Gonzales vs. U.S., No. 07-400 (U.S. Supreme Court 2008)
• U.S. vs. White, 258 F.3d 374 (5th Cir. 2001)
• State of Texas vs. Julian Hernandez, No. 89-CR-3036-B (Bexar County, Texas) dismissed capital murder charges, convicted of assault
• State of Texas vs. Powell, No. 911, 524 (Travis County, Texas) overturned capital murder conviction
• State of Texas vs. Heredia, No. 90-CR-6371 (Bexar County, Texas) dismissed capital murder case
• State of Texas v. Millard Farmer, et al,. Cr., No, 92-415, 861 and 92-425, 862 (72nd Judicial District Court, Lubbock County, Texas)
• In re Grand Jury Proceedings, Jean Auclair (Burton), No. 92-1116 (United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit)
• U.S. v. Wilder, 15 F. 3d 1292 (5th Cir. 1994)
• Mauldin v. Coats, 1989 WL 139110 (Tex.App.-Tyler 1989)
• State of Texas vs. Martinez, No. 71-481 (Webb County, Texas) overturned death penalty, changed to life sentence
• State of Texas vs. Moseley, No. 21-9234 (Gregg County, Texas)
• State of Texas vs. Armstrong, No. 92-CR-6425 (Bexar County, Texas) won capital murder case, convicted of robbery
• Ex parte Pedro Solis Sosa, No. W2 7729 (Atascosa County, Texas) overturned death penalty on Atkins claim
• Oscar Goodman, Witness-Petitioner vs. U.S. (Supreme Court 1993)
• Millard Farmer, et al. vs. Randall Sherrod, et al., No. 2:93-CV-0017-J (United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas) obtained permanent injunction of bad faith state prosecutions
• U.S. vs. William Paul Covington (Moffitt/Zwerling), Cr. No. 91-00425-A (United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia)
• John Doe, John Doe 1, John Doe II through John Doe VIII vs. U.S. (United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee)
• Cable News Network, Inc., et al. vs. Manuel A. Noriega, et al., No’s. A-370 and 90-767 (Supreme Court of the United States 1990) successfully defended Noriega’s right to attorney client privileged calls
• U.S. vs. David Z. Chesnoff, No. 91-17-H-CCL (United States District Court for the District of Montana)
• In re Grand Jury Subpoena for Attorney Representing Criminal Defendant Jose Evaristo Reyes-Requena (DeGuerin), 926 F.2d 1423 (5th Cir. 1991)
• U.S. vs. Jose Orlando Lopez, et al., No. CR 89 0687 (United States District Court, Northern District of California)
• U.S. vs. In re Grand Jury Subpoena for Attorney Dan C. Guthrie (District Court, Criminal Court No. 2, Dallas County, Texas)
• U.S. vs. B.B., No. 5:93-CR-056-C (Northern District of Texas, Lubbock Division )
• In re Grand Jury Proceedings, No. SA-94-CR-69
• U.S. v. Hemmingson, 157 F.3d 347 (5th Cir. 1998)
• U.S. v. Martin, No. SA-95-CR-059 (Northern District of Texas, Amarillo Division)
• State vs. Moreno, No. 90-CR-6371 (Bexar County, Texas) Acquittal on capital murder charge
• Ex parte Cathcart, No. 04-98-00231-CR (Bexar County, Texas)
• U.S. v. Richter, No. 2:97-CR-20048-001 (United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois)
• U.S. v. P.L. (Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division)
• U.S. v. White, 258 F.3d 374 (5th Cir. 2001) overturned weapon charge by person with domestic violence conviction
• U.S. vs. B.W. (Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division)
• U.S. vs. Moreno-Gonzalez, No. 05-14475 (11th Circuit 2007) overturned one count
• U.S. vs. Barry, WL 2116426, C.A.5 (Tex.), NO. 05-20838 (2007)
• U.S. vs. JW (2009)
• State vs. Smith (2008)
• State vs. Smith (2009)
• U.S. vs. Rana, No. MO: 04-CR-00003 (ND Texas 2007) time served sentence
• In re Zapata, No. 01-CR-3607-W1 (2007) overturned sexual assault of children convictions
• State of Texas v. Zapata, No. 2001-CR-3607 (290th Judicial District Court, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas)
• Davis vs. Zain, No. SA-94-CA-0094 (Bexar County, Texas)
• Ex Parte Overton, WR-75,804-02 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) reversed capital murder life conviction
• State v. Overton, 06-CR-3624-F (Nueces County 2015) capital murder case dismissed on remand and exoneration entered
• State v. Tyler Clay,   (Texas App.-Waco 2022) won reversal of capital murder conviction
• State v. Tyler Clay, No. 2017-1854-CR (McClennen County, Texas 2022) obtained dismissal of capital murder life case and got plea to time served on lesser charge on remand
• United States v. Wissam Allouche, SA- 13-CR- 420(WD Texas 2015) won terrorism trial
• United States v. Wissam Allouche,  15-504409  (5th Cir. Court of Appeals. 2017) won false statement conviction and restored naturalized citizenship
• United States v. Farthing, SA-17-CR- 00380(WD Texas. 2019) won bribery and money laundering trial
• United States v. Albert Diaz, 2017 Cr 00031 (SD Miss 2017) obtained compassionate release for Dr. Diaz

• TCDLA Rusty Duncan Conference
• American Bar Association
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• North Dakota Defense Lawyers Association
• Louisiana Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Ohio State Bar Association
• Nevada Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association
• Federal Public Defenders in Texas and California
• National Association of Women Lawyers
• CJA Panel Training for Federal Public Defenders
• Texas State Bar Advanced Criminal Law Course
• San Antonio Bar Association
• San Antonio CPA Society
• Hays County Bar Association
• Nueces County Bar Association
• Hidalgo County Bar Association
• San Antonio Paralegal Association
• Bexar County Women’s Bar Association
• Administrative Office for the United States Courts, Criminal Justice Act Lawyers Conference
• Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

• Extending Justice: Strategies to Increase Inclusion and Reduce Bias by Bernice B. Donald and Sarah E. Redfield, 2022
• The State of Criminal Justice, American Bar Association, 2009
• The State of Criminal Justice, American Bar Association, 2008
• The ABA Criminal Justice Standards for the Defense and Prosecution Function, American Bar Association, 2009
• Lost Power, Texas Lawyer, December 22, 2003
• Defending the Right to Defend, July/August, 2003
• After All, We Are Professionals, September, 2003
• The High Court Should Strike Down Laws Effecting a Power Grab by the Attorney General, October, 2003
• Thank You Sir, May I Have Another?, November, 2003
• We Don’t Need No Stink’n Privilege, December, 2003
• The “War on Drugs” and Other Follies, January/February, 2004
• Where Is The Court Going With the Fourth Amendment? Search Me…, April, 2004
• We Take No Note of Time But From Its Loss, May, 2004
• Evolving Standards of Decency: Support for the Death Penalty Is Waning and Habeas, Federal Court Review of New Evidence Procedurally Barred As An Abuse, Court of Criminal Appeals, June, 2004
• Achieving Justice: Freeing the Innocent, Convicting the Guilty, Report of the ABA Criminal Justice Section’s Ad Hoc Innocence Committee to Ensure the Integrity of the Criminal Process
• Extending Justice, Strategies to Increase Inclusion and Reduce Bias 2023

Sworn Testimony

• U.S. Sentencing Guidelines – testimony before the United States Sentencing Commission – March 17, 2010
• Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Provisions Under Federal Law – testimony before the United States Sentencing Commission – May 27, 2010