Attorney Profile

• Born November 26, 1954 in Gary, Indiana to Bernard Heibert and Carmen Cruz-Heibert.
• Graduated from Lew Wallace High School in Gary, Indiana in 1973.
• Graduated cum laude from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Spanish.
• Graduated from Northwestern School of Law in Portland, Oregon in 1981.
• Graduated form Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana in 1984 with a Masters of Art degree in Forensic Science.
• Admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1984.
• Practiced law with Galanos and Gilow in Gary Indiana from 1984 to 1987.
• Admitted to the Arkansas Bar in 1987.
• Practiced with the firm of Cook and Cruz from 1987 to 1990.
• Practiced law with the law firm of Q. Bynum Hurst from 1990 to 1994.
• Practiced law with the law firm of Roberts and Cruz from 1984 to 1997.
• Formed The Cruz Law Firm in 1997.
• Is a former deputy public defender for Garland County.
• Is a former deputy prosecuting attorney for Garland County.
• Was quoted in the Congressional Record on March 1, 2005, as a source on Bankruptcy law.
• Was cited in the April 2004, issue of Progressive Magazine as a source on Bankruptcy law.
• Has been cited as a source on Bankruptcy law in multiple issues of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
• Has been a source reference on Bankruptcy for CNN.
• Has been qualified as an expert witness for Bankruptcy in Garland County Circuit Court.
• Has been invited to participate in a Bankruptcy study by Harvard University.
• Has appeared on a local radio talk show to discuss consumer law issues.
• Is currently the only board certified attorney in consumer bankruptcy law in Arkansas, as certified by the American Board of Certification. Is currently one of less than 500 attorneys in the US certified in consumer bankruptcy law.
• Is a member of the Garland County Bar association, the Arkansas Bar Association, The Central Arkansas Debtor Creditor Bar, The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, The American Bankruptcy Institute, The National Association of Consumer Advocates, The National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, The National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, The American Bar Association, and the Arkansas Women Lawyers Association.