Elizabeth Franklin-Best is the principal attorney of Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C., a federal criminal defense and appellate firm. She has spent more than two decades in the federal system, and her work — particularly in appeals and post-conviction relief — is the foundation on which the firm is built. In 2026, Chambers USA ranks her for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, and Best Lawyers in America lists her for Appellate Practice.
Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C., offers a paid, one-hour initial consultation to review a federal matter and discuss the options.
Credentials
Role
- Principal Attorney
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of the United States
- All twelve U.S. Courts of Appeals
- U.S. District Courts — South Carolina, Maryland, the Southern District of Texas, the Northern District of Ohio, the Eastern District of Michigan, the Northern District of Illinois, and the District of Columbia
State Bar Admissions
- South Carolina
- New York
Recognition
- Chambers USA, 2026 — Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
- Best Lawyers in America, 2026 — Appellate Practice
- South Carolina Public Defender of the Year, 2010
Author
- Reversing Your Criminal Conviction
Practice Focus
- Federal appeals
- Post-conviction relief
- Federal criminal defense
Overview
Elizabeth Franklin-Best is a federal criminal defense and appellate attorney and the principal of Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C. Her practice is devoted to the federal system — federal trials, direct appeals to the United States Courts of Appeals, and post-conviction proceedings under federal law.
Over more than twenty years, she has built a practice centered on the most technically demanding parts of federal cases: appeals, post-conviction petitions, and careful review of a trial record for issues that can change an outcome. Chambers USA recognizes that white-collar litigation work in its 2026 guide, and her book, Reversing Your Criminal Conviction, distills the appellate side of it for defendants and their families.
Federal Criminal Defense and Appellate Practice
Elizabeth Franklin-Best represents clients across the federal criminal process — from investigation and charging through trial and sentencing — and her defining strength is appellate and post-conviction work.
That work includes direct appeals to the U.S. Courts of Appeals, motions under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, compassionate release motions, and other forms of post-conviction relief. It is detailed, record-intensive work governed by strict deadlines, and it rewards the kind of focused experience that defines her practice.
Federal-court admission is distinct from state licensure. Our federal courts directory explains the firm’s relationship with each U.S. District Court.
Approach to Client Representation
Elizabeth Franklin-Best approaches every matter with a full and careful review of the record, followed by a candid assessment of where the case stands. Clients facing the federal system are best served by counsel who will tell them the truth about their situation and then do rigorous, disciplined work to improve it.
In appellate and post-conviction work, the issues that matter are often buried in the record and bounded by hard deadlines. The value of experienced counsel is in finding those issues early and acting on them in time.
That representation begins with a paid, one-hour initial consultation — a substantive working session in which we help clients chart the path forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Elizabeth Franklin-Best?
Elizabeth Franklin-Best is a federal criminal defense and appellate attorney and the principal of Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C. She has practiced in the federal system for more than two decades, focusing on appeals and post-conviction relief.
What courts is Elizabeth Franklin-Best admitted to?
She is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States and all twelve U.S. Courts of Appeals, admitted to practice before seven U.S. District Courts, and licensed by the South Carolina Bar and the New York State Bar. She appears in other districts through pro hac vice admission.
Has Elizabeth Franklin-Best been recognized in her field?
Yes. In 2026 she is ranked by Chambers USA for Litigation: White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations and listed in Best Lawyers in America for Appellate Practice. She was named South Carolina Public Defender of the Year in 2010 and is the author of Reversing Your Criminal Conviction.
What kind of cases does she focus on?
Her practice is devoted to federal criminal defense, with a defining strength in appellate and post-conviction work — direct appeals, Section 2255 motions, ineffective-assistance claims, and compassionate release. She also handles federal trial-level defense.
Does she handle cases outside South Carolina?
Yes. Federal criminal law is national. She represents clients in U.S. District Courts and Courts of Appeals across the country, appearing directly where she is admitted and through pro hac vice admission elsewhere.
How can I consult with Elizabeth Franklin-Best?
The firm offers a paid, one-hour initial consultation that can be scheduled through our booking page. It is a substantive review of the matter and the available options.
Talk With a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
Whether your federal case is approaching trial, on appeal, or already final, the right next step is a careful review of the record. Schedule a paid, one-hour initial consultation with a federal appeals lawyer who has spent her career inside this system.