Practice areas: Criminal Defense, DUI-DWI, White Collar Crimes; view more
Licensed in Texas since: 1999
Education: Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2009 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2005 - 2006 Call today:
214-935-2488
The Crowder Law Firm, P.C.
7950 Legacy DriveSuite 360
Plano, TX 75024 Visit website
Darlina C. Crowder serves as president of The Crowder Law Firm, P.C., in Plano, Texas, where she has focused on criminal defense since 2000. With over two decades of experience representing clients in Dallas and surrounding areas, she handles both state and federal criminal cases.
After earning her J.D. from Texas A&M University School of Law in 1998, Ms. Crowder was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1999. She also gained admission to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas that same year, later adding admission to the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to her credentials.
Throughout her career, Ms. Crowder has achieved remarkable results, including over 300 acquittals for her clients. A notable case involved her collaboration with Robert Udashen defending Lisa Diaz in a highly publicized capital murder trial, successfully securing a not guilty verdict by reason of insanity. This case received coverage in multiple publications, including Texas Lawyer and Dallas Observer.
Ms. Crowder's professional journey includes judicial experience as an associate judge in Collin County Probate Court beginning in 2013, where she presided over mental health hearings. Her professional recognition includes receiving the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association's Presidential Award in 2007 and 2008.
Active in legal organizations, Ms. Crowder has served on boards for the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association. She maintains memberships in numerous professional associations, including the Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Criminal Defense: White CollarFocus areas
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Criminal Law - Federal, DUI/DWI, Debt, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, Failure to Pay Child Support, False Accusations, Felony, Juvenile Delinquency, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Overdrawn Bank Account, Parole, Probation, Prosecution, Sex Offenses, Tax Evasion, Theft, White Collar Crime
- 80% Criminal Defense
- 10% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 10% Criminal Defense: White Collar
First Admitted: 1999, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://www.crowdercriminalfirm.com/attorney/darlina-c-crowd...
Bar / Professional Activity
- Texas State Bar, 1999
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas, 1999
- Board of Directors, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (Associate Director, 2007–2008)
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) - Member, Strike Force (2012–Present)
- Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (CCCDLA) - Founding Board Member (2000)
- Secretary/Treasurer, Collin County Criminal Bench Bar Foundation (2001)
- Vice President, Collin County Criminal Bench Bar Foundation (2002–2003)
- Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Member
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- Trial Lawyers College, Member
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
Educational Background
- Juris Doctor (J.D.), Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, Honors: Chosen by classmates to speak at Hooding Ceremony, 1998
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Minor in General Science, Texas Woman’s University, 1995
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Featured Article: Texas Lawyer (Aug 2004) – “Against All Odds”
- Featured Article: Dallas Observer (Sept 2004) – “Insanely Guilty”
- Featured Article: Houston Press (Sept 2004) – “Insanity Defense”
- The Center for American and International Law, Criminal Defense Trial Skills and Law Program, Faculty, Lecturer, Speaker (2006-Present)
- Texas Center for the Judiciary conference, Co-Presented with Gary Udashen on Eye Witness Identification (May 2012)
- Military Defense Counsel Trial Litigation, Faculty, The Center for American and International Law, Plano, Texas (July 2009, 2011)
- Texas Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators, Speaker, “The Anatomy of a DWI Stop”, McKinney, Texas (January 2010)
- Advanced Criminal Law Seminar, 28th Annual Prairie Dog Lawyers, Speaker on Winning Strategies at Trial, Lubbock, Texas (January, 2008)
- Advanced Trial Series, Speaker on Experts, Tyler, Texas (December 14, 2007)
- Voir Dire Seminar, Course Director, Dallas (December 6, 2007)
- Rusty Duncan Advanced Criminal Law Course, Course Director & Speaker, San Antonio (June 2007)
- Texas Criminal Trial College, Faculty, Huntsville, Texas (March 2005 & 2006)
- Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association Luncheon Speaker (March 2005)
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association, Seminar, Speaker, (Laredo, March 2005:McAllen, May 2005: New Braunfels, July 2005)
Other Outstanding Achievements
- President, The Crowder Law Firm, Plano, Texas (Practicing criminal defense since 2000)
- Over 300 acquittals achieved
- Notable Case: Co-counsel in Lisa Diaz case (charged with capital murder, found not guilty by reason of insanity)
- Associate Judge, Collin County Probate Court (Appointed 2013, presided over mental health hearings)
- Media Appearances: Featured as a guest on KLIF (FOX) Radio (Nov 2006), The O’Reilly Factor (Nov 10, 2006), and Nancy Grace on CNN as Co-Counsel.
Honors
- Texas Monthly’s “Super Lawyers Rising Stars” - March 2005, March 2006, March 2007
- Texas Monthly’s “Texas Super Lawyers” - October & September 2009
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Presidential Award - June 2007 & 2008
- Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Criminal Defense, The National Trial Lawyers, 2021
- Texas Bar Foundation – Fellow since 2007
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2009
- Rising Stars: 2005 - 2006
