I am a civil rights lawyer and an experienced trial attorney and advocate, who has long fought for clients in court and beyond. I bring to Burnette Shutt & McDaniel a commitment to protect the civil rights of others and a determination to see systemic reform of mental health services for low income patients. Much of my motivation stems from a desire to solve problems that I have seen during my 42 year career as a criminal defense attorney. I have been devoted to providing access to the rehabilitative assistance that clients need to avoid the revolving door leading back to prison. As a public defender leader, I worked to connect clients with the services that they need to work toward better futures. This included housing assistance, employment counseling and more. I also volunteer help to formerly incarcerated people so that they may successfully reintegrate into society. While serving the Ninth Circuit Public Defender, I helped develop a Charleston County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council that continues to promote collaboration and fairness in local criminal-justice policies.I graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law. I practiced in the Richland County Public Defender’s Office and as a federal public defender in Chicago before settling in Charleston.