Kurt May serves in the position of Senior Associate at the Goldstein & Orr Law Firm, which specializes in criminal defense in State and Federal Courts, as well as white collar regulatory advisement. He formerly served as Senior Litigator for the Office of Federal Public
Defender, Western District of Texas. He is a veteran public
defender, with a legal career that spans 33 years. Special assignments during his
career include treaty transfer cases to Mexico, capital death penalty
representation, and serving as detail Counsel to the United States House of
Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary. In this capacity he worked on
drafting legislation for Criminal Justice Reform, managing a Legislative
Committee hearing on the Opioid Epidemic, and working on legislation for
funding for mental illness treatment in the criminal justice system.
In addition, Kurt maintains an active role with the local federal judges, private
bar, and the continuing legal education needs of his District. Since 2012, Kurt has
served on the local Federal Courts Committee, working collaboratively with
federal judges, federal agencies, courts, private attorneys and the U.S. Attorneys
Office, to resolve criminal justice issues. In that capacity, he also serves on the
sub-committee charged with making CJA Panel Attorney selections, and
responding to unique needs that may arise involving advisement to the private
bar. Kurt continues to serve as Faculty for a variety of legal training courses.
Preparation for Kurt’s public law career began in the 1960’s, growing up in a
small Kansas town of about 4,000 people. Observing the dynamic tension
between the needs of the community and individual rights provided the backdrop
for his formal education. While earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from
Kansas State University (1983), he acquired communication skills debating for
the K-State Varsity Debate team, and served in various leadership positions on
campus and in his fraternity. Graduating Phi Beta Kappa, he was awarded a full
scholarship to pursue post-graduate work at the University of Michigan in
Twentieth Century American history (1983-1984). After a year in Ann Arbor, and
before attending law school, he experienced Washington, D.C. while serving as an
intern for United States Senator, Nancy Landon Kassebaum. This cemented a
life-long interest in public policy, defending the rights of individuals, and finding
ways for government to better serve citizen’s interests.
Throughout his college years, Kurt worked both during the school term and
summers to pay for tuition and expenses. He worked for the University, over
holiday breaks, and in the summers as a swim coach, pool manager, and swim
instructor. He worked during law school as a graduate teaching assistant and in
the law library. Kurt understands the value of hard work and individual
responsibility.
After graduating from Brigham Young University law school (1987), he returned
to Kansas and accepted a position as a briefing attorney for a triple murder
defense trial team in Wichita. That experience, while leading to the client’s
acquittal, launched a highly accomplished legal career. He was awarded national
recognition in 2008, as the Outstanding Assistant Federal Defender by the
National Association of Federal Defenders, and local recognition in 2017, with the
Outstanding Lawyer Award which is given by the San Antonio Business Journal.
Kurt has continued his education, in developing relationships with those in the
local business community. In 2016, he completed an Executive Training course at
the Harvard Business School, which focused on Organizational Management,
Innovation, Leadership Skills, and understanding the importance of relationships
between business, the community, and government entities. In 2017, he
completed the Leadership San Antonio program.
Kurt’s work in the community spans the local, state, and national spectrum. In
addition to his leadership roles in the San Antonio legal community, he served for
15 years on the San Antonio Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Association Board of
Directors, and is a past president. He currently serves on the Board of Directors
for the Texas Book Festival. He is a member of the College of Arts and Sciences
Alumni Advisory Council at Kansas State University, and is a Trustee on the
National Board of Directors for the Theta Xi Fraternity. In each of these roles he
has successfully worked in nonpartisan ways to problem solve and serve the
broader community.
In November of 2019, Kurt ran and was elected to serve as Alderman of Castle
Hills, Texas. It was his first time to seek public office.
|