Former federal prosecutor Sally Yates received a standing ovation from a roomful of criminal defense lawyers at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ annual conference on Thursday.

The group honored Yates with its Champion of Justice Restoration of Rights Award for her work to advance education in prison and promote successful re-entry into society when she was deputy attorney general in the Obama administration after serving as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. She is now a partner in the special matters and government investigations practice at King & Spalding.