Trusted Expungement Experts

I am a Southern California criminal defense attorney, founder of Moments Law, and commentator on California criminal justice issues. My work focuses on the intersection of criminal law, substance use disorders, mental health, homelessness, and public safety. Drawing on daily courtroom experience in Southern California Counties, I help audiences understand how California’s criminal justice system operates in practice, explain the impact of new legislation and court decisions, and provide clear, balanced legal analysis for television, radio, podcasts, and print media.

Rocky Brancato is an AV Preeminent®-rated criminal defense attorney with over 25 years of experience litigating serious criminal cases across the Tampa Bay, Florida region. His practice covers the full spectrum of criminal law—from homicide, sex crimes, and aggravated child abuse to white-collar offenses, DUI, internet crimes, and complex mental health defenses. Known for his deep understanding of forensic evidence, prosecutorial discretion, and trial strategy, Brancato is frequently consulted by clients and legal professionals alike in high-stakes and high-profile cases. Before founding The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., he rose through the ranks of one of Florida’s largest public defense office to become Chief Operations Officer of the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office. In that role, he led over 100 attorneys and more than 200 staff, overseeing tens of thousands of felony, misdemeanor, juvenile, and postconviction matters each year. His unique background in both executive leadership and frontline trial advocacy gives him uncommon insight into how the justice system functions—and where it fails. Brancato is the author of How to Choose a Major Crimes Attorney – or Any Criminal Defense Attorney for That Matter, a candid guide that helps individuals and families make informed decisions when facing criminal charges. He is also an active member of the National, Florida and Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is regularly invited to speak on issues involving sex offense litigation, expert witness strategy, and criminal justice reform in Florida. With a reputation for meticulous case preparation, strategic litigation, and strategic advocacy, Rocky Brancato is a trusted resource for authoritative commentary on criminal law, trial practice, and systemic issues in the legal system.

I bring a rare dual perspective to criminal law: 23 years as an FBI Special Agent followed by nearly a decade as a criminal defense attorney. This unique combination of federal law enforcement experience and defense advocacy gives me comprehensive insight into both sides of the criminal justice system. As owner of the Law Office of Jerry L. Garner, I represent clients facing serious criminal charges throughout Southern Indiana, including weapon offenses, white collar crimes, violent crimes, OWI/DUI, drug charges, and sex-related offenses. My FBI career spanned investigations in Alabama and Kentucky, giving me firsthand knowledge of federal investigative procedures, constitutional protections, and the inner workings of law enforcement agencies. Beyond my legal practice, I served as a professor at Kentucky Wesleyan College from 2013 to 2020, teaching courses in Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Criminal Investigation, White Collar Crime, and Critical Issues in Policing. My academic background also includes teaching Astronomy at the collegiate level. Areas of Expertise: - Criminal Defense & Constitutional Rights – Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment protections; search and seizure law; Miranda rights - Federal Law Enforcement & FBI Procedures – Investigation techniques, evidence collection, federal prosecution processes - White Collar Crime – Fraud, corruption, financial crimes, and federal enforcement trends - Criminal Procedure – Arrest protocols, interrogation practices, courtroom procedures - Violent Crime & Drug Offenses – Defense strategies, sentencing considerations, plea negotiations - Criminal Justice Policy – Policing practices, judicial processes, reform issues Education: - JD – Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville (1988) - MS – Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia (2010) - BA – Hanover College, Indiana (1985) Professional Experience: - Owner/Attorney, Law Office of Jerry L. Garner (2017–Present) - Professor/Adjunct Professor, Kentucky Wesleyan College (2013–2020) - Special Agent (Retired), FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation (1990–2013) - Associate Attorney, Law Office of Jenner & Kemper (1989–1990)

Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA, is Managing Director of Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C. and one of the country’s most-cited authorities on how federal prison sentences are actually served — where a defendant is designated, what the Bureau of Prisons controls, and how much time a person really does. He’s the go-to source when a high-profile defendant is sentenced and the question becomes where they go and what happens there. TIME turned to him on Elizabeth Holmes, CNN on Sean “Diddy” Combs and FCI Fort Dix, and Inc. on Sam Bankman-Fried. Zoukis knows the system from the inside. He served a federal sentence, writing College for Convicts (McFarland, 2014), Prison Education Guide, and the Federal Prison Handbook (2017) while incarcerated, and earned a 2012 PEN America Prison Writing Award. He later authored the Directory of Federal Prisons (2020) and earned his J.D. from UC Davis School of Law, where he was Articles Editor of the UC Davis Law Review. He holds an M.B.A. from Adams State University. His focus: BOP designation under 18 U.S.C. § 3621(b), sentence computation, First Step Act earned time credits and PATTERN scoring, RDAP, prison discipline and conditions of confinement, compassionate release, halfway house and home confinement placement, and reentry. He has advised hundreds of clients and families through federal incarceration. He is Chairman of the Board of the Human Rights Defense Center, publisher of Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News, and author of the forthcoming Federal Criminal Defendant’s Handbook and the third edition of The Habeas Citebook: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel. Zoukis is not an attorney; all legal work is handled by lead counsel Elizabeth Franklin-Best, ranked in Chambers USA 2026 for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, named a 2026 Best Lawyer in America for Appellate Practice, and admitted before the U.S. Supreme Court and all U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals. The firm assists with federal sentencing, direct appeals, habeas corpus petitions, and compassionate release. Quoted by TIME, CNN, Inc., Fox News, ABC News, the Associated Press, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Bloomberg Law, The Hill, UPI, and Vice News. Contributor to the Huffington Post, New York Daily News, Prison Legal News, and Criminal Legal News. Contact: Chris@ZoukisDefense.com · (843) 620-1100 · https://federalcriminaldefenseattorney.com/about-us/our-team/christopher-zoukis/

Ray Johnson is a retired FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge, attorney, and educator whose career spans the courtroom, the classroom, and the command post. Over nearly 30 years in state and federal law enforcement, he has led complex criminal investigations, commanded SWAT operations, overseen national shooting‑incident reviews, and managed critical incidents and mass‑casualty events across the United States. Johnson is a veteran member of the Southern Nevada law enforcement community, with deep senior‑level experience coordinating federal, state, and local responses to both crises and major planned events. He has delivered high‑impact training on active shooter behavior, ethics, and leadership to thousands of public‑safety leaders and is frequently called in after major incidents to help agencies navigate culture, accountability, and public trust. As Division Counsel in multiple FBI field offices, Johnson provided legal oversight on investigations, ethics, and compliance and helped shape the FBI’s Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide. Internationally, he has mediated between Ukrainian anti‑corruption agencies and advised on governance and rule‑of‑law issues during Operation Enduring Freedom, earning recognition from the U.S. Ambassador for advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives. Now an adjunct faculty member at UNLV’s Boyd School of Law, he focuses on how law, leadership, and policy perform under real‑world pressure. His research and writing center on use of force, investigative accountability, organizational ethics, and the intersection of policing, immigration, and civil rights. He regularly helps journalists and the public make sense of complex law‑enforcement issues. He is coauthoring two forthcoming Criminal Investigation and Criminology texts as well as a companion leadership playbook for front‑line leaders working in high‑pressure, high‑visibility environments. Johnson’s honors include multiple high‑level executive leadership awards from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, as well as recognition from U.S. diplomatic leadership for international anti‑corruption work. He continues to consult with courts, law‑enforcement agencies, and organizations on use of force, crisis leadership, and organizational culture under scrutiny.

Attorney Matthew Weidner has been a passionate consumer warrior for nearly 3 decades. He's been featured in press around the world on a wide range of consumer/legal related topics. He's been profiled in New York Times Best Selling Books, and has been regularly quoted in Wall Street Journal, New York Times and the like. He has an active social media presence and has one of the most popular legal YouTube Channels with nearly 500,000 viewer counts. He operates a professional grade studio and is available for immediate appearances.

I am a former federal defendant who went through two federal trials, including representing myself pro se during my second trial. I now work with individuals, families, and attorneys to provide clarity around parts of the federal criminal system that are rarely explained in public—particularly pre-sentence investigations (PSRs), sentencing dynamics, prison designation, and post-conviction decision-making. My perspective is based on lived experience inside the federal system rather than legal theory. I do not provide legal advice and do not practice law. I focus on how federal processes actually function in practice, how small decisions compound, and how preparation and discretion often matter more than courtroom arguments. I am available for commentary on federal sentencing mechanics, probation practices, prison conditions, and the gap between how the system is described versus how it operates.

I connect journalists and media professionals with expert voices who provide credible, insightful commentary across a range of topics, from mental health and therapy to recovery and wellness. I help stories come to life by matching the right expert with the right story, ensuring accurate, human-centered perspectives that resonate with readers. Whether you’re looking for quotes, interviews, or expert insights for your articles, I can provide timely, professional access to our network of specialists. Check some of articles/insights of my experts below:

Sipes has a lifelong professional commitment to the criminal justice system, starting as a police officer and working his way through top positions within the justice system. He retired as the Senior Public Affairs Specialist and Social Media Manager for a federal criminal justice agency. He advised presidential and gubernatorial campaigns. Sipes graduated from The Johns Hopkins University with a Certificate of Advanced Study in Liberal Arts. He received a Master of Science degree in Criminology from the University of Baltimore. Sipes was a successful media affairs and social media manager with 35 years of national and state government experience; he accumulated multiple awards, including best government customer service, best use of technology, best teamwork, top awards for podcasting and audio, and many first-place awards for television hosting and production. Sipes has over 50 national and regional awards. He is the author of “Success With the Media,” available at Amazon. Sipes managed the most popular audio and video podcasting and social media site in the US for select crime and justice issues; he created the first state and federal podcasting series and social media sites. Sipes was the primary spokesperson for crime prevention for the federal government for 10 years as the Senior Specialist for Crime Prevention for the National Criminal Justice Reference Service and the Director of Information Services for the National Crime Prevention Council (both funded by the US Department of Justice). He co-managed the most successful public service ad campaign in the nation (McGruff the Crime Dog-Take a Bite Out of Crime). He was a Security Planner for the United States Senate, Sergeant at Arms. He started a plan to secure every Senate office beyond Washington, D.C. He was the longest-lasting Director of Public Information for the State of Maryland (Maryland Department of Public Safety); he was a former Associate Professor for Criminology and Public Affairs-University of Maryland. Sipes effectively managed thousands of media contacts and appeared on every national television and radio network multiple times; every national newspaper and wire service quoted him. He created successful state media campaigns; produced a unique and emulated style of proactive public relations; wrote and managed hundreds of publications; went from 20 to 50 percent approval in agency public opinion; he has vast experience in big-complicated agencies.

Nisan Zaghi is an Associate Attorney at Consumer Attorneys whose practice is dedicated to protecting consumers from credit-reporting errors, unfair debt-collection practices, and background-check inaccuracies under statutes such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Before joining the firm, he sharpened his litigation skills at a boutique patent-litigation practice and later represented individuals in consumer-protection cases, gaining a valuable mix of technical insight and client-focused strategy. Nisan is motivated by the belief that businesses must be held accountable when they cut corners or defraud everyday people. Restoring a client’s reputation - and often their livelihood - gives him genuine professional satisfaction. To deliver the best possible client experience, he stays readily available, answers questions promptly, and keeps each client fully informed as their case unfolds. He earned his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law on a substantial scholarship and holds a B.S. in Biology from Brooklyn College, where research-heavy coursework honed the analytical mindset he brings to complex credit-report disputes. Admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey state courts and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, he is positioned to litigate most consumer-protection claims arising in the Northeast. Nisan is an active member of the New York State Bar Association, staying current on developments in consumer law and collaborating with advocates across the state. Outside the office, Nisan enjoys hiking, swimming, and spending quality time with his wife and children - pursuits that keep him grounded and energized for his clients’ battles.

Chris Berg – Expert in Law Enforcement, Undercover Operations, and Crime Fiction Chris Berg is a retired police detective and award-winning author, offering expert insights into crime and policing, drawn from over two decades of law enforcement experience. A third-generation lawman, Chris began his career in 1977 in the Bay Area and quickly advanced to detective grade. He excelled in vice and intelligence, ultimately finding his niche as an undercover narcotics detective. Chris thrived conducting hand-to-hand drug buys, investigating clandestine labs, and adopting the necessary undercover personas. Later, he became a narcotics field training officer and served as a court-certified expert witness in narcotics investigations. After an injury, Chris pivoted to a corporate career, operating across the globe with key engagements in India, Russia, China, Brazil, South Africa, etc, and often associations with MI5, MI6, and most of the US alphabet agencies. Currently, Chris co-authors the acclaimed Night Police series with Paul James Smith. The series has earned both a Claymore Award and Page Turner Award finalist recognition, with his authentic crime thrillers inspired by real events. Contact Chris via nightpolice.com or +1 408-564-9994 for expert commentary on policing, undercover work, or crime fiction.

ORM Agency is a leading Online Reputation Management (ORM) company dedicated to helping individuals, professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and businesses protect, restore, and strengthen their online reputation. In today's digital world, a single negative article, review, forum discussion, or misleading search result can significantly impact personal credibility and business growth. Our mission is to ensure that your online presence accurately reflects your achievements, values, and professional identity. With years of expertise in reputation management, search engine optimization (SEO), content removal, and digital brand protection, our team develops customized strategies designed to solve even the most challenging online reputation issues. Every client receives a personalized approach because no two reputation challenges are the same. Our services include negative content removal, search result suppression, review management, reputation monitoring, privacy protection, personal branding, executive reputation management, business reputation management, crisis response, and SEO-driven content promotion. Whether the objective is removing harmful content, improving Google search results, or building a stronger digital footprint, we focus on ethical, transparent, and long-term solutions. At ORM Agency, we combine advanced SEO techniques, legal content removal procedures where applicable, authoritative content publishing, digital PR, and continuous reputation monitoring to help clients regain control of their online image. Our strategies are designed to improve search visibility while reducing the impact of outdated, misleading, or damaging content.

William Berg is a securities expert at DayTrading.com with more than 20 years of experience reviewing brokers, trading platforms and the rules that sit behind them. With a legal and financial background, he has audited countless brokers and investigated thousands of trading scams and clone firms, giving him a sharp eye for what separates a trustworthy platform from a costly mistake. William holds an LL.M. from the Gothenburg School of Business, Economics and Law, where he focused on securities law and international trade. He later studied at Moscow State University, adding to a background that blends law, business administration and cross border finance. That mix gives him a solid grip on both the legal fine print and the real world mechanics of online trading. Before and alongside his editorial work, William consulted on IPOs in the Nordic market, worked with fintech startups in payments and point of sale systems, and provided localization for leading forex trading software. He has also spent years as a writer and fact checker for financial publications, using that experience to test brokers, compare trading tools and explain complicated topics without turning them into legal soup. As an active market participant, William has placed thousands of private and test trades across forex, CFDs, options and stocks, while testing different trading platforms and apps. His practical experience, paired with a deep knowledge of securities law and broker regulation, makes him well placed to comment on broker safety, platform quality, trading risks and the standards traders should expect before putting money on the line.

W. Scott Hanken is a Springfield, Illinois criminal defense and DUI attorney with 37 years of legal experience, including service as a former Sangamon County Assistant State’s Attorney. I was born in and have remained a lifelong resident of Springfield, Illinois. I attended Griffin High School and completed my undergraduate degree at Marquette University. While growing up, I had frequent interaction with local attorneys and judges, which played a large role in my decision to pursue a career as an attorney. I attended Creighton University School of Law and earned my Juris Doctor in 1989. After law school, I served as a legal clerk and intern at several firms in Omaha and completed a 711 internship in the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office, which led to my appointment as an Assistant State’s Attorney. As a former prosecutor, I tried a wide range of criminal, traffic, and DUI cases and developed the skills needed to navigate the criminal justice system from both sides. I entered private practice in 1990, and my work has centered on criminal, traffic, and DUI defense ever since. Over 37 years of practice, I have defended cases ranging from routine traffic matters to capital murder charges. My goal in every case is the same: to listen, communicate, and provide the strongest possible defense for clients facing criminal charges. Education Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, Nebraska - J.D. - 1989 Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - B.A. - 1985 Honors: Political Science Bar Associations Capital Litigation Trial Bar Association, Member Member Since: 2004 - current Illinois State Bar Association, Member Member Since: 1989 - current Sangamon County Bar Association, Member Member Since: 1989 - current Sangamon Country Bar Association, President Member Since: 2004 - 2005 Sangamon Country Defense Bar Association, President Member Since: 1993 - 2005 Sangamon Country Bar Association, Director Member Since: 1992 - 1993 Sangamon Country Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, President Member Since: 1990 - 1991 American Association for Justice, Member Member Since: 1991 The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member Member Since: 1990 Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Member Member Since: 1990 Past Positions Attorney/Partner at Rabin, Myers & Hanken, P.C., 1996 to 2011 Public Defender at Sangamon County Public Defender, 1997 to 1999 Associate at Long, Morris, Myers and Rabin, P.C., 1994 to 1996 Associate at Pfeifer & Kelty, P.C., 1990 to 1994 Assistant State's Attorney at Sangamon County State's Attorney Office, 1989 to 1990 Certified Legal Specialties Capital Litigation Trial Bar Association, Capital Litigation Bar, 2004 Classes & Seminars Gaining The Best Settlement in Auto Injury Cases, NBI, 2009 Aggravated DUI - Resent Developments, ICLE, 2008 Published Works Gaining the Best Settlement in Auto Injury Cases, Attorney Continuing Legal Education, 2009 Current Employment Position Solo Practitioner Honors Super Lawyer - DUI/Criminal Defense, Super Lawyers, 2007 Top Criminal Defense Lawyer Superb 10.0 Rating, Avvo, 2010-2014 Avvo Lawyers Rating 10, Avvo, 2011 Client's Choice Award - Criminal Defense, Avvo, 2012 Top Contributor - Criminal Defense, Avvo, 2013 Top 200 DUI Attorneys - Illinois (National Advocacy for DUI Defense), 2013 Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers - Illinois (American Society of Legal Advocates), 2014 Avvo Rated 10 Superb, Avvo, 2014 Superior DUI Attorney (National Advocacy for DUI Defense), 2016 Ten Best Attorneys - Criminal Defense (American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys), 2016 Best DUI Attorney - Top Rated, Expert Network Distinguished Lawyer, 2017 Ten Best Attorneys - Criminal Defense (American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys), 2017 Avvo Rated Top Lawyer, Avvo, 2017 Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney, Attorney and Practice Magazine, 2018 America's Most Honored Professionals, The American Registry, 2018 Three Best Rated - Best Business, DUI & Criminal Defense, ThreeBestRated.com, 2018 Client's Choice Award - Criminal Defense, Avvo, 2018 Avvo Rated Top Lawyer, Avvo, 2018 Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney, Attorney and Practice Magazine, 2019 America's Most Honored Professionals - Top 10%, The American Registry, 2019 Nations Premier - Top 10 Ranking (National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys), 2019 Best of Springfield - Lawyer, Illinois Times, 2019 Avvo Rated Top Lawyer, Avvo, 2019 Best of Springfield - Law Firm, Illinois Times, 2020 America's Most Honored Lawyers - Top 5%, The American Registry, 2020 Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney, Attorney and Practice Magazine, 2020 Top Ranking Attorney - Criminal Defense (American Association of Attorney Advocates), 2020 Three Best Rated - Best Business, ThreeBestRated.com, 2020 Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney - Best of the Best, 2020 Nations Premier - Top 10 Ranking (National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys), 2020 Lawyers of Distinction, 2020 Top Attorney - Annual List of Top Attorneys, Premier Lawyers of America, 2020 Avvo Rated Top Lawyer & Client's Choice Award, Avvo, 2020 America's Most Honored Lawyers - Top 1%, The American Registry, 2020 Best of Springfield - Best Lawyer, Illinois Times, 2021 America's Most Honored Lawyers, The American Registry, 2021 Lawyers of Distinction, 2021 Distinguished - Very High Rating in Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, Martindale-Hubbell, 2021 Avvo Rated Top Lawyer & Superb Rated Lawyer, Avvo, 2021 Best of Springfield - Best Lawyer, Illinois Times, 2022 America's Most Honored Lawyers - Top 10%, The American Registry, 2022 Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney, Attorney and Practice Magazine, 2022 Top Ranking Attorney - Criminal Defense (American Association of Attorney Advocates), 2022 Top 10 Law Firm, National Recognition, 2022 Three Best Rated - Best Business, ThreeBestRated.com, 2022 Lawyers of Distinction, 2022 City's Best Award, Springfield, 2022 Elite Lawyer - Top Attorneys, Criminal Defense, Elite Lawyer, 2022 Distinguished - Very High Rating in Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, Martindale-Hubbell, 2022 Avvo Rated Top Lawyer & Superb Rated Lawyer, Avvo, 2022 Best of Springfield - Best Lawyer, Illinois Times, 2023 America's Most Honored Lawyers - Top 3%, The American Registry, 2023 Most Awarded Lawyers, American Registry, 2023 Top Law Firm - Criminal Defense, America's Best Advocates, 2023 Top 10 Attorneys - Criminal Defense, America's Best Advocates, 2023 Best of the Best Attorneys - Top 10, 2023 Best DUI Lawyer - Springfield IL, Expertise.com, 2023 Three Best Rated - Best Business, ThreeBestRated.com, 2023 City's Best Award, Springfield, 2023 Ten Best Attorneys - Criminal Defense (American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys), 2023 Lawyers of Distinction, 2023 Distinguished - Very High Rating in Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, Martindale-Hubbell, 2023 Avvo Rated Top Lawyer & Client's Choice Award, Avvo, 2023 Best of Springfield - Best Lawyer, Illinois Times, 2024 America's Most Honored Lawyers - Top 3%, The American Registry, 2024 Distinguished - Very High Rating in Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, 35th Anniversary Recognition, Martindale-Hubbell, 2024 Avvo Client's Choice Award & Top Contributor, Avvo, 2024 Best of Springfield - Best Lawyer, Illinois Times, 2025 Community's Choice Award - Springfield (SJR / Official Community's Choice Awards), 2025 Top 3 Best Rated Criminal Defense Lawyers, ThreeBestRated.com, 2025 America's Most Honored Lawyers - Top 3%, The American Registry, 2025 Distinguished - Very High Rating in Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, Martindale-Hubbell, 2025 Avvo Rated Top Lawyer & Superb Rated Lawyer, Avvo, 2025 America's Most Honored Lawyers, The American Registry, 2026 Top 10 Criminal Law Firm Dedicated to Justice - Illinois, 2026 Avvo Top Contributor & Rated Top Lawyer, Avvo, 2026 Lawyers of Distinction, 2026 Law Eagle of America, 2026 Super Lawyers - DUI/Criminal Defense, Super Lawyers, 2007-2026 (20 consecutive years) Avvo Superb Rated Lawyer (10.0) & Top Rated Lawyer, Avvo, 2011-2026 Avvo Top Contributor - Criminal Defense, Avvo, 2012-2026 30th & 35th Anniversary Recognition - Distinguished Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, Ongoing Nation's Top One Percent (National Association of Distinguished Counsel), Ongoing Top 100 - The National Trial Lawyers, Ongoing Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers - Illinois (American Society of Legal Advocates), Ongoing Top 200 DUI Attorneys - Illinois (National Advocacy for DUI Defense), Ongoing Premier Lawyers of America - Top Tier Lawyers, Ongoing

Elizabeth Franklin-Best is the principal attorney of Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C., a federal criminal defense and appellate firm, and one of the country’s most experienced federal post-conviction lawyers. Over more than two decades, she has appeared in over 330 federal proceedings — more than 100 of them appeals — and is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States and all U.S. Courts of Appeals. Chambers USA ranks her in its 2026 guide for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, and Best Lawyers in America 2026 lists her in Appellate Practice. She was named South Carolina Public Defender of the Year in 2010. She has served as counsel of record in sixteen published decisions. She argued United States v. Slager, 912 F.3d 224 (4th Cir. 2019), the sentencing appeal in a widely reported federal civil rights prosecution, and was counsel in United States v. Frias (2d Cir. 2024) and United States v. Joseph (10th Cir. 2024). Her collateral-review work includes capital habeas matters Wood v. Stirling (4th Cir. 2022) and Morva v. Zook (4th Cir. 2016), and Bennett v. Stirling (D.S.C. 2016), where a federal court granted habeas relief in a capital case after finding racial bias infected the sentencing. She was also counsel in Aiken v. Byars (S.C. 2014), the landmark ruling applying Miller v. Alabama to require new sentencing hearings for juvenile offenders. Her practice is devoted to the federal system: direct appeals, 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motions, § 2254 and capital habeas petitions, ineffective assistance claims, compassionate release, and federal sentencing. She is the author of Reversing Your Criminal Conviction: Develop Your Winning Strategy (2023) and writes expert analysis for Law360, most recently on how the Supreme Court’s habeas rulings limit compassionate release. She serves as Co-Vice Chair of the NACDL Amicus Curiae Committee for the Fourth Circuit, Board Chair of Justice 360, and is a charter member of the Women’s White Collar Defense Association. J.D. and M.A. in Philosophy, University of Wyoming. Admitted in South Carolina and New York. Available to comment on federal appeals and post-conviction practice, Supreme Court criminal rulings and their downstream effects, capital habeas, white-collar defense, and federal sentencing. Contact: (843) 620-1100 · https://federalcriminaldefenseattorney.com/about-us/our-team/elizabeth-franklin-best/

I am a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney with over 27 years of experience practicing exclusively in Broward County's 17th Judicial Circuit. What sets me apart is my background on both sides of the courtroom — I served as both a Broward County Assistant State Attorney and Assistant Public Defender before founding my firm. I don't just understand criminal defense theory; I know precisely how Broward prosecutors build their cases because I built them myself. My practice covers the full spectrum of criminal defense: DUI, domestic violence, theft offenses, drug charges, felonies, misdemeanors, and violations of probation. As a solo practitioner, every client works directly with me — not an associate or paralegal — from the first call through resolution. My credentials reflect decades of consistent results. I hold Avvo and Justia 10.0 ratings — the highest possible — along with a Martindale-Hubbell 4.9 rating and more than 200 five-star Google reviews from Broward County clients. I am available to comment on Florida criminal law, Broward County court procedure, DUI defense, domestic violence charges, theft prosecutions, and the realities of how the state attorney's office approaches criminal cases — from someone who has lived it on both sides for nearly three decades.