Elizabeth Franklin-Best P.C. is a resource for journalists, producers, and editors covering the federal criminal justice system. We provide background and on-the-record commentary on federal sentencing policy, post-conviction litigation, compassionate release, Bureau of Prisons conditions, and criminal justice reform. Members of the firm have been quoted and featured by national outlets including CNN, the Associated Press, The Washington Post, Fox News, ABC News, USA Today, Bloomberg Law, The Guardian, The Hill, Vice News, the Huffington Post, Prison Legal News, the New York Daily News, and Law360 — a selection appears on our In The News page.
Contact for Media
Phone: (843) 620-1100 · Online: contact form
Please include your outlet and deadline in your first message. We routinely accommodate same-day and next-day deadlines.
Topics We Can Speak To
Federal sentencing and the Guidelines
How federal sentences are calculated, what the § 3553(a) factors do, departures and variances, and why two defendants with the same charge can receive very different sentences.
Federal appeals and post-conviction relief
What a direct appeal can and cannot do, the difference between an appeal and a § 2255 motion, ineffective-assistance claims, and the deadlines that govern both.
Compassionate release and sentence reduction
How compassionate release works after the First Step Act, what courts have found to be extraordinary and compelling, and how the Sentencing Commission policy statement applies.
Bureau of Prisons policy and conditions
Designation under 18 U.S.C. § 3621(b), sentence computation, RDAP, First Step Act earned time credits, discipline, and medical care — the machinery that determines what a sentence looks like in practice.
Clemency and pardons
How the pardon-attorney process actually works, what distinguishes commutation from pardon, and the realistic timelines involved.
White-collar and financial crime defense
Federal fraud statutes, investigations, and the sentencing dynamics specific to loss-driven cases.
Available for Interview
Elizabeth Franklin-Best — founder and principal attorney. Counsel of record in sixteen published decisions; admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States and twelve of the thirteen U.S. Courts of Appeals. Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2027 in three categories and ranked in Chambers USA 2026. Speaks to federal appeals, habeas and § 2255 practice, compassionate release, and federal sentencing.
Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA — Managing Director, author of the Federal Prison Handbook, and Chairman of the Board of the Human Rights Defense Center. Speaks to Bureau of Prisons policy and conditions, designation and sentence computation, the First Step Act, RDAP, and prison education.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should I contact for media inquiries?
Call the firm at (843) 620-1100 or use the contact form. Please note your outlet and your deadline in the first message so we can respond appropriately.
How quickly can the firm respond to a deadline?
We routinely accommodate same-day and next-day deadlines when we can. Tell us your deadline up front and we will tell you honestly whether we can meet it.
Who is available for interview?
Elizabeth Franklin-Best comments on federal appeals, post-conviction litigation, compassionate release, and federal sentencing. Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA, comments on Bureau of Prisons policy, prison conditions, the First Step Act, and prison education.
Will the firm comment on a pending case it is handling?
Only within the limits of our professional-conduct obligations and our client’s interests. We can almost always provide background on the law and procedure at issue, even when we cannot discuss a specific active matter.
Can I use the firm’s photographs or biography?
Yes. Attorney headshots and biographies on this site may be used in connection with a story that quotes or features them. Please credit Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C.
Media Inquiries and Consultations
Journalists: include your outlet and deadline in your first message. Individuals facing a federal matter: representation begins with a paid, one-hour consultation.
Reviewed for legal accuracy by Elizabeth Franklin-Best, Esq., Principal Attorney·September 2026