Jarrunis L. Yates (J.R.) grew up in Rock Hill, SC and graduated from Westminster Catawba. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary education from Clemson University. He received his Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law. While attending Howard University, J.R. was selected for the criminal justice clinic, which was tasked with representing indigent defendants in Washington, DC charged with felonies and misdemeanors. J.R. received a direct commission as a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force Reserve in March 2011. In his reserve capacity, Major Yates is a Staff Judge Advocate. J.R. is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Courts of South Carolina and Alabama, the United States District Courts of South Carolina and Middle District of Alabama, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the Air Force Court of Appeals. He has been a social security disability lawyer for over 10 years. J.R.’s experience as both a civilian and reserve attorney gives him a unique perspective on addressing various legal issues facing families today.

Elizabeth Franklin-Best is a nationally recognized federal criminal defense and appellate attorney with over 23 years of experience in high-stakes post-conviction advocacy. She holds a J.D. and M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Wyoming and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and all U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals. Elizabeth exclusively represents clients in federal courts and agencies, focusing on appeals and post-conviction relief, sentence mitigation, federal supervised release matters, and pre-trial and trial representation. Her practice encompasses § 3582(c)(2) motions, § 2255 motions, § 2241 petitions, compassionate release, early termination of supervised release, and presidential pardon petitions. Author of Reversing Your Criminal Conviction: Develop Your Winning Strategy (2023), she was named 2010 “Public Defender of the Year” by the South Carolina Public Defender Association. Elizabeth provides individualized, compassionate representation, ensuring no stone is left unturned in pursuing justice for each client.