New Zion Criminal Lawyers

C. Austin Elliott is a native of Texas and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He attended Charleston School of Law and has practiced in the Charleston area since 2011, successfully representing hundreds of individuals and businesses throughout the Lowcountry.

Mr. Elliott represents clients in a variety of matters including:

Civil & Business Litigation
Criminal Defense
Personal Injury
State & Federal Regulatory/Administrative Matters
Business Transactions and Formations
Firearms Issues

Paul R. Thurmond, founding partner, leads the firm’s criminal defense practice. Before starting the firm in 2005, he served as an assistant solicitor with the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Charleston, S.C. During that time, he handled over one thousand criminal indictments, from minor infractions to murder, leaving the Solicitor’s Office with a 92 percent trial conviction rate. Since then, Thurmond has served as an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston and more recently as a part-time prosecutor for the City of North Charleston. In this role, he predominately handled the City’s DUI cases along with other offenses. He also...

Attorney J. Brooks Davis has the experience you need to succeed in your criminal, DUI, traffic or accident case. Prior to being an attorney, Brooks attended the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia and was a police officer for the City of Charleston. As a police officer, Brooks served in patrol, traffic and was chief pilot of the aviation division. Brooks is trained in the use of radar, DUI field sobriety testing, breathalyzer operation and accident investigation. Brooks will work with you directly and involve you in the process so that you may make informed decisions and achieve the best possible...

20 years experience in criminal law. State and Federal. Handled over 2500 DUI and DUAC cases. Handled over 3000 other types of traffic tickets. Handled over 25 felony DUI cases. Successfully handled over 50 Drug Trafficking cases. State legal representative for N.O.R.M.L.

Bakari made history in 2006 when, at just 22 years old, he defeated a 26-year incumbent State Representative to become the youngest member of the South Carolina state legislature and the youngest African American elected official in the nation. In 2014 he was the Democratic Nominee for Lt. Governor in the state of South Carolina. Bakari has worked for United States Congressman James Clyburn and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. He served on President Barack Obama’s South Carolina steering committee during the 2008 election and is widely considered to be a rising star within the Democratic Party and a leading...

Arthur K. Aiken gives his clients quality representation at a fair price

Chad Shelton is a graduate of Valparaiso University and the Charleston School of Law. After law school, he was soon admitted to the South Carolina Bar and to the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. In 2007, Chad joined the Berkeley County Public Defender’s office. He worked for nine years at the public defender’s office. Chad worked thousands of cases ranging from drug offenses, traffic violations to armed robbery and murder. He is well seasoned at going to trial and fighting hard for his clients. He obtained numerous not guilty verdicts at...

Born and raised in the Lowcountry, Chip Cannon is a trial lawyer with a passion for advocating on behalf of his clients. Having spent time working for insurance companies serving as a defense lawyer and experience as a former prosecutor, Chip brings a unique perspective and extensive courtroom knowledge to his practice. He is dedicated to fighting for justice and providing a voice to those in need. Chip has successfully represented clients in a wide range of personal injury cases, including car accidents, trucking accidents, drunk driving accidents, slip and falls, product liability cases, dog bites, alcohol-related injuries (known as...

Fierce advocate that will fight for you and your rights! Not afraid to take a case to trial. Attorneys at MLB Law have over 60 years of combined experience. Joshua Brown was born in Virginia, but moved to Fort Mill, SC with his family when he was in the first grade. He graduated from Nation Ford High School in 2010. He graduated Cum Laude from Newberry College in 2014 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He then received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2017 and was sworn in to the...

For nearly 20 years, J. Bradley Baker has been representing clients throughout South Carolina. As a Lexington attorney, he handles cases involving personal injury, criminal defense, and workers’ compensation. Attorney Baker is driven to advocate for the rights of his clients, going above and beyond to protect their futures. He regularly handles cases before the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission and is skilled at defending those accused of DUI thanks to his prosecutorial background. Mr. Baker believes in working hard for his clients and treating them the way he would want to be treated. He prides himself on delivering personal...

Criminal law, federal courts, state courts, appeals, habeas.

Adam Young has an AV Preeminent* rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Adam was also selected as a member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, which is an invitation-only organization that recognizes the top 100 trial lawyers in each state. During law school, Adam worked for the Navy JAG, NCIS division in Washington, DC and also clerked for the United States Attorney's Office in Charleston. After graduating from law school, Adam began his legal career at the Ninth Circuit Solicitor's Office, focusing his efforts on prosecuting criminal domestic violence cases. Starting his career focusing specifically on prosecuting criminal domestic violence cases...

Hall & Hall Attorneys at Law is dedicated to providing clients with the knowledgeable counsel needed for their unique legal needs. The West Columbia attorneys have served the community for more than 45 years and can assist you with cases involving criminal defense, family law, bankruptcy, personal injury, real estate, and probate law. The firm has a long history of obtaining successful results for their clients, and their lawyers are ready to help with your legal matter. Contact Hall & Hall Attorneys at Law to learn how they can advocate for your rights and best interests!

Admitted to the bar of:
The State of South Carolina
U.S. Federal District Court for the District of South Carolina
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Memberships:
American Bar Association
South Carolina Bar
South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Horry County Bar Association
American Association for Justice
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
National College for DUI Defense
Myrtle Beach Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers – Founding Member
National Rifle Association – Life Member
South Carolina State Constable Alliance
Southern States Police Benevolent Association
S.C. Concealed Weapons Instructors Association
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
South Carolina State Constable’s Alliance
American Radio Relay League (ARRL)

Activities:
Former Adjunct Professor at Horry-Georgetown Technical College
South Carolina Concealable Weapons Course Instructor
NRA...

Steve joined Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC, in 2019. Before joining Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC, Steve worked for over five years with the Fifth Circuit Public Defender in Columbia, South Carolina. At the public defender, Steve focused on defending individuals charged with serious and most serious violent crimes. During the past five years, Steve has defended nearly every type of crime on the books, including Murder and Felony DUI involving Death. Steve has successfully tried many criminal cases to verdict and is licensed to provide first-chair defense representation in death penalty cases.

During Steve’s tenure as a public defender, he was...

Dan Kienker is from Hendersonville North Carolina, and graduated from the University of North Carolina-Asheville with a major in political science. Upon his graduation he entered the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant serving 26 years, and retiring with the rank of Full Colonel. His military career includes assignments to Germany, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Honduras, and Warsaw, Poland where he led a military contact team shortly after the fall of the former Soviet Union.
During his military career he was selected for Command of three combat rated Tactical Control...

Mr. Milling is a litigator in both federal and state court handling civil litigation, corporate litigation, criminal defense, and white collar criminal defense.

John graduated from the University of South Carolina, School of Law in 2004, where he was the 2004 recipient of the Arthur B. Custy Tax Award. John joined Strom Law Firm, LLC in July of 2005. In his practice, John represents individuals in many types of civil litigation, including: class actions, (such as the SCE&G V.C. Summer Litigation, Graniteville train derailment, and Chinese Drywall), business litigation, personal injury litigation, including traumatic injury and nursing home neglect. John also assists those who are applying for Alcohol Beverage Licenses and represents parties who the Department of Revenue have proposed a suspension or revocation...

** What is it like working with me? ** When working with me, what you see is what you get. I’ve been told that I have a strong personality. I am brutally honest, and I won’t sugar coat the facts. That means I’m not afraid to ask and answer the hard questions when working on your case. With that said, you should know that I’m still very approachable, non-judgmental and down to earth. In whatever situation my clients have found themselves in, I’m not here to judge or make them feel bad about themselves. My job is to...

It is my goal to give each case the attention to detail it needs. I will not take on new cases at the expense of existing clients. The reality is there are only so many hours in a week. If I take on hundreds cases, I have less time to spend on each case than if I take on 25. If you want an attorney that will give you the attention you deserve, that can speak to you without a lot of legal jargon, that’s down-to-earth, and enjoys helping people, then please call 843-970-2929.

My name is Elizabeth Franklin-Best and I am an attorney who focuses on criminal appellate law and federal criminal law. I started at the Richland County Public Defender’s office where I worked alongside some of the most passionate lawyers in this profession. Later, I worked at the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense, Appellate Division where I studied and analyzed hundreds of different cases, and gained valuable experience arguing in the South Carolina Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. I spent 7 years as a partner in the law firm of Blume Franklin-Best & Young, LLC focused on capital...

Johnny Gardner is a dedicated trial attorney with decades of courtroom experience. He began his legal career in 1992 as a Solicitor for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. This background provides Johnny with a unique perspective of the legal system that greatly assists in the preparation of criminal cases for trial. Three years later, he entered private practice and founded his own law firm. Johnny concentrates his practice primarily on DUI and Criminal Defense, and has tried many difficult, complex cases. Johnny is an Horry County native. He attended Socastee High School and Coastal Carolina University. He served as an Infantry...

In 2018, Matthew graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law, ranking fourth in his law school class. During his time in law school, Matthew served as an Associate Editor-in-Chief for the South Carolina Law Review, where he authored a published article entitled State of Fear: Domestic Violence in South Carolina. Matthew was also inducted into the Order of the Coif and received the 2018 John O. MacDougall Family Law Award. After graduating law school, Matthew spent two years serving as a law clerk to the Honorable John D. Geathers at the South Carolina Court of Appeals. Matthew joined Strom...

Former prosecutor A. Randolph "Randy" Hough has a strong background in criminal law. Before entering private practice, he served as a prosecutor for the Fifth Judicial Circuit of South Carolina, handling numerous crimes ranging from drug trafficking to white-collar crimes to murder.

He also handled complex federal drug charges as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. Few other local defense lawyers can claim this extensive background in prosecuting crimes at both the state and federal level. Mr. Hough has defended cases in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and is a member of the South Carolina Bar, United States District Court for...

EDUCATION The John Marshall School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
AND LICENSES: Juris Doctorate, 1991

Honors: Elected to 1989 American Leadership Conference, Washington, D.C.
The James Madison Distinguished Service Award, The Federalist Society of America

Activities: President, The Federation of Federalist Societies of Chicago Law Schools
President, The Federalist Society of The John Marshall School of Law
Contributing Writer - Editor, The Decisive Utterance

Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio
Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, 1984

Honors: Member of the National Philosophy Honor Society, Phi Sigma Tau

Attorney:
May, 2002 - Admitted to practice law in South Carolina
Present

November, 1991 - Admitted to practice law...

For over 30 years, I've been helping South Carolinians that have been accused of criminal and traffic offenses get their day in court. I graduated from Valparaiso University School of Law, then clerked for Pike County (Kentucky) Circuit Judges Baird Colleton and Charles Lowe in Kentucky. I was a public defender in Orangeburg, SC. - fighting for clients that otherwise would have been worked through the system and jailed due to plea bargaining. My reputation for getting my clients in front of a jury of their peers rather than letting the prosecutors pressure them into a plea helped me build my...