Attorney Profiles

Cyndy Short graduated from law school in 1987 in St. Louis, Missouri.  She was toiling away in a small labor law firm when she was appointed to represent a young poor woman accused by the federal government of attempting to assassinate Jesse Jackson during his 1988 presidential campaign. This experience changed the course of her practice, and she dedicated most of the next 15 years of her career to the representation of poor people as a public defender in Kansas City(first in the trial division, then in the capital litigation division where she served as head of that office for nearly a decade).  Cyndy's achievements for her clients are too numerous to mention.  But one highlight occurred very early in her career, when a jury angered by the treatment of her client acquitted him and demanded an apology from the police and prosecutors for their wrongdoing. Once she devoted her practice to death penalty cases, she achieved wonderful results for her clients including dismissals, acquittals, and an exoneration.  Her accomplishments have not gone unnoticed.  She received the Lon O. Hocker Memorial Trial Lawyer Award in 1997, given annually by the Missouri Bar in recognition of outstanding trial work.  She also received the Defender of Distinction Award in 1998 for her dedication to representing poor people charged with serious crimes.  That is the highest honor given by the Missouri State Public Defender. The Western Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty recognized her work on the Dick Dexter case with their Courageous Litigator Award. 

Cyndy Short graduated from Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyers' College in 1994.  Since 1997, she has been a TLC faculty member trains lawyers and judges around the country.   She also serves on TLC's board as the liaison for TLC's alumni association (The F Warriors).

Numerous people owe their freedom and their lives to Cyndy's dedication, compassion, personal sacrifice, and skill as a trial lawyer.