Practice Areas: White Collar Crimes, Criminal Defense, Appellate; view more
Licensed in Texas since: 1988
Education: St. Mary's University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2003 - 2024 Call today:
210-226-1463
Goldstein & Orr
310 South St. Mary's Street29th Floor
San Antonio, TX 78205 Visit website
Details
Attorney Cynthia E. Hujar Orr is a partner with Goldstein & Orr law firm in San Antonio, Texas. Board Certified in both criminal law and criminal appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Ms. Orr has more than 31 years of total legal experience, and she provides unmatched counsel and support to clients throughout San Antonio and surrounding areas who stand accused or are under investigation for any type of felony or misdemeanor offense.
Over the course of her legal career, Ms. Orr has achieved a long record of securing successful outcomes for her clients in state, federal and appellate courts across her region, and she has extensive experience handling federal and white collar criminal matters. A leader in her field, she has served as president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and she is a founding member and inaugural president of the San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.
In addition, she is a current member of the board of governors of the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit, and she serves as CJA panel representative for the Western District of Texas. She is also a member of the San Antonio Bar Association’s Federal Courts Committee on Criminal Law, and she is active with many other local, state and national legal organizations. She has also written extensively and conducted numerous lectures and continuing legal education seminars on a variety of legal topics related to criminal defense.
Honored for her outstanding professionalism and service, Ms. Orr has earned an AV-Preeminent peer review rating* from Martindale-Hubbell along with consistent recognition from The Best Lawyers in America©. She has also received a Top 100 Trial Lawyer designation from the National Trial Lawyers along with many other top rankings and endorsements from her peers.
A 1979 graduate of the University of Texas, Austin, Ms. Orr obtained her Juris Doctor in 1988 from St. Mary’s University School of Law. She is admitted to practice before all U.S. District Courts in Texas as well as before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th, 5th, 9th and 11th Circuits and the U.S. Supreme Court. She also serves on the Texas Board of Law Examiners for the Texas State Bar Association.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Best Lawyers® and The Best Lawyers in America© are registered trademarks of BL Rankings, LLC d/b/a Best Lawyers and Co., LLC. The names, logo, and database are protected under the trademark, copyright, and fair use laws of the United States of America. Any use of name, including in electronic form, must be made only by permission and under the guidelines of BL Rankings, LLC d/b/a Best Lawyers and Co., LLC.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense: White Collar, Criminal Defense, Appellate, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Food and DrugsFocus areas
DUI/DWI, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Felony, Misdemeanor, White Collar Crime
- 40% Criminal Defense: White Collar
- 30% Criminal Defense
- 10% Appellate
- 10% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 10% Food and Drugs
First Admitted: 1988, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://www.goldsteinhilley.com/our-people/cynthia-e-hujar-o...
- State of Texas v. Zapata, No. 2001-CR-3607 (290th Judicial District Court, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas)
- State v. Sosa, 1995 – Present
- Davis vs. Zain, No. SA-94-CA-0094 (Bexar County, Texas)
- In re Zapata, No. 01-CR-3607-W1 (2007)
- U.S. vs. Rana, No. MO: 04-CR-00003 (ND Texas 2007)
- State vs. Smith (2009)
- U.S. vs. Moreno-Gonzalez, No. 05-14475 (11th Circuit 2007)
- U.S. vs. Barry, WL 2116426, C.A.5 (Tex.), NO. 05-20838 (2007)
- U.S. vs. JW (2009) -State vs. Smith (2008)
- U.S. vs. B.W. (Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division)
- U.S. v. White, 258 F.3d 374 (5th Cir. 2001)
- U.S. v. P.L. (Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division)
- U.S. v. Richter, No. 2:97-CR-20048-001 (United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois)
- Ex parte Cathcart, No. 04-98-00231-CR (Bexar County, Texas)
- U.S. vs. Jose Orlando Lopez, et al., No. CR 89 0687 (United States District Court, Northern District of California)
- State vs. Moreno, No. 90-CR-6371 (Bexar County, Texas)
- U.S. v. Martin, No. SA-95-CR-059 (Northern District of Texas, Amarillo Division)
- U.S. v. Hemmingson, 157 F.3d 347 (5th Cir. 1998)
- In re Grand Jury Proceedings, No. SA-94-CR-69
- U.S. vs. B.B., No. 5:93-CR-056-C (Northern District of Texas, Lubbock Division)
- 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. David Z. Chesnoff, No. 91-17-H-CCL (United States District Court for the District of Montana)
- 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)
- 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. 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)
- 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)
- Oscar Goodman, Witness-Petitioner vs. U.S. (Supreme Court 1993)
- State of Texas vs. Martinez, No. 71-481 (Webb County, Texas)
- Ex parte Pedro Solis Sosa, No. W2 7729 (Atascosa County, Texas)
- State of Texas vs. Armstrong, No. 92-CR-6425 (Bexar County, Texas)
- State of Texas vs. Moseley, No. 21-9234 (Gregg County, Texas)
- Mauldin v. Coats, 1989 WL 139110 (Tex. App.-Tyler 1989)
- U.S. v. Wilder, 15 F. 3d 1292 (5th Cir. 1994)
- In re Grand Jury Proceedings, Jean Auclair (Burton), No. 92-1116 (United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit)
- State of Texas v. Millard Farmer, et al,. Cr., No, 92-415, 861 and 92-425, 862 (72nd Judicial District Court, Lubbock County, Texas)
- State of Texas vs. Heredia, No. 90-CR-6371 (Bexar County, Texas)
- State of Texas vs. Powell, No. 911, 524 (Travis County, Texas)
- State of Texas vs. Julian Hernandez, No. 89-CR-3036-B (Bexar County, Texas)
- Moreno-Gonzales vs. U.S., No. 07-400 (U.S. Supreme Court 2008)
- U.S. vs. White, 258 F.3d 374 (5th Cir. 2001)
- Obtained the first Confession of Error by the State of Texas in a death penalty case, Miguel Angel Martinez vs. Gary Johnson, No. L-98-37 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Laredo Division, underlying case – State of Texas vs. Miguel Angel Martinez, Cause No. K-91-294-D3 in the 341st Judicial District Court, Webb County, Laredo, Texas.
- On October 4, 2011, along with the Innocence Project, Inc. of New York, was instrumental in gaining the release of an innocent man, Michael Morton, who was convicted in 1987 for the murder of his wife, in Williamson County, Texas.
- Successful before the U.S. Supreme Court with regards to money laundering in Moreno -Gonzalez vs. U.S., No. 07-400 (2008).
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 30th Annual Rusty Duncan Advanced Criminal Law Course, Course Director, 2017
- American Bar Association, Representative, House of Delegates, 2011 - Present
- San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Past President
- Board of Law Examiners for the Texas State Bar Association
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 2004
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1996
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1991
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1989
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1992
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1991
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1990
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1990
- Texas, 1989
- CJA Panel Rep for the Western District of Texas
- SABA Federal Courts Committee, Member
- American Bar Association, Standards Committee, 2006 - Present
- San Antonio Bar Association, Member
- Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit, Board of Governors
- American Bar Association, Defense Functions/Services Committee, Co-Chair, 2003 - 2009
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, President, 2003 - 2004
- San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Federal Courts Committee - Criminal Law Subcommittee, Co-Chair, 1999 - Present
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Board of Directors, 1999 - 2005
- American Bar Association: Chair, Criminal Justice Section, 2014
- American Bar Association, Prosecution and Defense Standards Taskforce for Rewriting the Standards, 2006 - Present
- American Bar Association, White Collar Crime Division, Co-Executive Director, 2013 - 2014
- San Antonio Bar Association, Criminal Law of the Federal Court, Co-Chair
- San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, President, 1999 - 2000
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, President, 2009 - 2010
- American Bar Association, 1988 - Present
- American Bar Association: Diversity Officer, Criminal Justice Section, 2014
- American Bar Association, Vice Chair-at-Large, Criminal Justice Section, 2010 - Present
- American Bar Association: Defense Functions/Services Committee Liaison to Criminal Justice Section Ad Hoc Innocence Committee to Ensure the Integrity of the Criminal Process, 2002 - 2008
- William S. Sessions American Inn of Court, 2001 - Present
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1988 - Present
- San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
- Texas Innocence Network, Co-Founder, 2000
- American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Committee Section, 2001 - Present
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Presidential Award, 1994 - 1998, 2000 - 2001, 2003, 2012
- San Antonio Bar Association Presidential Award “Outstanding Service,” 2010
- San Antonio Bar Association Presidential Award, 1998
- Presidential Recognition by National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1999 - 2004, 2007 - 2008
- Best Lawyers in America White Collar Crime & Appellate, 2006 – 2009
- Best 100 Trial Lawyers in Texas by The National Trial Lawyers
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubble, 2006 – Present
- Women's Hall of Fame, Women's Hall of Fame, 2006
- Spirit of Justice Award, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2012
- President, San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 1998
- Women's Leadership Award, San Antonio Business Journal, 2009
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Texas, American Association for Justice, 2007 - Present
- Robert C. Heeney Memorial Award, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, NACDL’s most prestigious award, the Robert C. Heeney Award, is given annually to the one criminal defense attorney who best exemplifies the goals and values of the Association, and the legal profession, 2014
- President's Award, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2000
- President, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2009
- Celebrating Outstanding Women, San Antonio Business Journal, 2009
- Minuteman Strike Force Award, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2012
- President, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2003
- President's Award, San Antonio Bar Association, 2010
- Best Lawyers in America, 2005 – 2010
- Texas Super Lawyers, Texas Monthly, 2003 - Present
- San Antonio Minority Business Accelerator, Co-Founder
- Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Women’s Opportunity Week, Co-Founder
- State vs. Estrada, 2008
- San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce, Member
- Baylor University, Waco, Texas
- University of Texas at Austin, B.B.A., 1979
- The State of Criminal Justice, American Bar Association, 2008 - 2009
- 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 Stinkin 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
- The Post-Postville Conference, September 18, 2008, Kansas City, MO; Topic: Ethical Considerations Governing Multiple Representations, sponsored by The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, The American Immigration Lawyers Association, The National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, the American Civil Liberties Union Immigrants’ Rights Project and the Federal Public Defender for the District of Kansas City, Mo.
- Defending Drug Cases Seminar, November 13-14, 2008, Houston, TX; Topic: Forfeiture, sponsored by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Defense Champions at Battle: Charging the Line, August 22-23, 2008, Nashville, TN, Topic: Closing: It is Your Battlefield, Your Win, sponsored by the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Board Certified, Criminal Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1994
- San Antonio Woman’s Hall of Fame, Inductee
- Board Certified, Criminal Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2011
Office location for Cynthia E. Hujar Orr
310 South St. Mary's Street
29th Floor
San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: 210-226-1463
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2003 - 2024
