Chelsey Youman serves as senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom’s Center for Public Policy. In her role, she promotes ADF’s policy and legislative work at the state level. She advises governmen...

Jeff Mateer, Esq., is General Counsel for Liberty Institute. Mr. Mateer joined Liberty Institute in 2010, after 19 years in private litigation practice. He now oversees and directs Liberty Institute’s...

Jeff Mateer, Esq., is General Counsel for Liberty Institute. Mr. Mateer joined Liberty Institute in 2010, after 19 years in private litigation practice. He now oversees and directs Liberty Institute’s legal team. He specializes in religious liberty matters, including free exercise, free speech, RLUIPA and public acknowledgment of religion cases. Mr. Mateer has represented clients ranging from large international organizations to local businesses, schools, ministries, churches and individuals in complex federal and state court actions involving religious liberty, civil rights, employment, intellectual property and business matters. In private practice, his clients included the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Citigroup, CNA, ConAgra Foods, former officers and directors of EDS, Ford Motor Company, Pilgrim’s Pride and PNC Bank. He has tried numerous jury and bench trials in both federal and state courts, and has successfully argued before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Texas appellate courts. In addition to having received an A-V rating by Martindale-Hubbell, Mr. Mateer has been honored as a Texas Rising Star and Texas Super Lawyer. He received his undergraduate education at Dickinson College, where he graduated with honors in 1987, and his legal education at Southern Methodist University, where he graduated with honors in 1990. While in law school, he served as an editor of the law review. He is licensed to practice law by the state of Texas and is admitted to practice before all Texas State and Federal District Courts and the 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Mateer is a sought after speaker and guest on national and local television and radio, including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, CNN, CBN, and Fox News, on religious liberty topics.

Erin Smith serves as Associate Counsel at First Liberty Institute. Before joining First Liberty, Erin served as Assistant General Counsel for the Oklahoma State Department of Education. She also se...

Erin Smith serves as Associate Counsel at First Liberty Institute. Before joining First Liberty, Erin served as Assistant General Counsel for the Oklahoma State Department of Education. She also served as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals Unit. Erin graduated summa cum laude from the Oklahoma City University School of Law, where she was recognized as the J. William Conger Distinguished Student for the Class of 2022 and received the T. Hurley Jordan Award for Excellence in Criminal Procedure. During law school, she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Oklahoma City University Law Review, president of the OKC Student Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society and vice president of the OCU Christian Legal Society. She externed for the Solicitor General of Oklahoma, and published her Note, Almost Only Counts in Horseshoes, Hand Grenades … and Hardison? The 45-year Reign Continues, in the Oklahoma City University Law Review. Erin spent her summers interning at First Liberty Institute and the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General. Erin received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Oklahoma State University in 2019, graduating summa cum laude. Erin is licensed to practice law in Oklahoma.