CYNTHIA R. GARZA'S BACKGROUND

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Cynthia R. Garza is a tenacious leader in both the legal profession and the Dallas community as a whole. A native Texan, she was born in the Rio Grande Valley and grew up in Houston. Her parents always prioritized education and emphasized the significance of a meaningful career while in service to others. Holding steadfast to those values, she graduated magna cum laude with a double undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University in 2001 and received her law degree three years later from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. 

After joining a respected criminal defense firm, Garza gained invaluable experience in handling all facets of criminal matters. The knowledge and skills she obtained as a criminal defense attorney prepared her to accept a position in the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office’s Appellate Division in 2008. Garza was transferred to the Office’s Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) in 2010 and, in 2017, she was named the Chief Prosecutor of that unit. Since then, Garza has been involved in a significant percentage of the Unit’s 35 exonerations – an accomplishment that has been every bit as educational as it has been rewarding.

Cynthia R. Garza is the longest-tenured CIU prosecutor in the nation and is greatly sought after by professionals near and far for her experience and insight to establish and improve similar units in their jurisdictions. Garza has published several articles during her career and has presented at many local, statewide, and national conferences and seminars – even to international audiences. She was also invited by the Texas Association of District and County Attorneys to participate in a mandatory video training for all Texas prosecutors educating them about the risks of wrongful convictions – an honor typically only extended to elected prosecutors. 

Garza’s intrinsic zeal for a fair and accessible criminal justice system has also made her an active participant in criminal justice reform efforts at the Texas legislature in Austin. She is also consulted by leaders from around the country in order to establish reform efforts in their state and has testified before another state’s legislature as a resource witness for criminal justice reform efforts. 

Garza is equally committed to our community members, serving as a mentor to countless students and investing her time and resources in Dallas County youth in an effort to strengthen our community for years to come. Furthering her commitment to education and achievement, she often speaks at schools and encourages youth to pursue higher education and careers. She also participates in community events, educating the public about the law and wrongful convictions. 

Garza’s stellar career and inspiring dedication to her community has drawn recognition from several prestigious organizations. In 2024, she received the DFW Black Prosecutor Association Appreciation Award for Pursuing Justice for All. In 2023, she was presented with the Distinguished Alumna Award from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. That same year, Garza received Law & Crime Network’s America’s Greatest Detective Award for her work in the CIU. In 2020, she was the recipient of a Profiles in Leadership Award by the SMU Women’s Symposium, and in February 2019, County Commissioners recognized Garza as the Dallas County Employee of the Month. In 2014, she received the La Cima Latina Government Leader Award by the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for her work in the CIU. In both 2008 and 2009, she was named a Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers Magazine. 

In 2023, Cynthia R. Garza was admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States of America, the highest court in the land and an honor for any licensed attorney. Garza has served on the board of various organizations, including SMU Dedman School of Law’s Emerging Leader Board as well as various bar associations. She is currently a member of the Dallas Women Lawyer’s Association, the Mexican American Bar Association, the Dallas Bar Association, the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association, and the North Texas State Criminal Law Inn of Court. Garza serves as an SMU Dedman School of Law Community Fellow, as well as a Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Foundation Fellow. 

Garza is married with children, and her family lives in Dallas. Outside of her work, Garza enjoys supporting her children soccer and basketball teams. Garza co-leads a small book club and participates in the local library’s reading challenges with her family. In her spare time, Garza also enjoys painting and spending time with her pet chihuahuas.