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 Bar Number 56571
State Bar of California Membership Information
Jim Blatt has had two significant influences in his life, his mother, Lillian Blatt, and the town in which he grew up, Punxsutawney, PA. Both have contributed greatly to the development of his successful legal career.
Lillian Blatt taught Jim to stand up for what he believed in, to be tough, determined but caring, and always stressed a deep loyalty to family. The youngest of 11 children and the only girl, Lillian Blatt had, no doubt, honed these traits within herself when she became the young matriarch of her family after the death of her mother. With a consistent display of remarkable character, she strove to provide a better life for her own children. She was also fiercely dedicated to “doing the right thing” no matter what the consequences.
As for the influence of his home town, Punxsutawney, PA, the benefit lay in Jim’s observance of the limited opportunity there. Tucked away in the Western Appalachian Mountains, it is the Heart of coal mining country. The family suffered financial hardship and difficult times. It was clear at an early age to Jim that without academic excellence or athletic prowess, one was destined to a life expectancy of little more than 50 years; the result of working day after day in the coal mines.
Being one of only fifteen Jewish families in the town, Jim encountered Anti-Semitism, which he first addressed with physical altercation, then learned to address with a sharp intellect and a deft tongue, made all the more potent through education.
The town also had a strong football mentality, and Jim played on an undefeated and un-tied high school team. The phrase, “A winner never quits and a quitter never wins” was ingrained in him. The football and coal mining mentality steeled in Jim’s personality the motivation to become a determined person who achieves goals, and in Jim’s case, great goals. Committed to making a better life for himself than the one in which he was raised, he headed to Los Angeles to start a new life – at the age of 17.
When people comment on how hard it is to practice law successfully in Los Angeles, or anywhere for that matter, Jim always replies that it is nothing compared to life working in a coal mine. He keeps a large chunk of coal under glass in his office as a constant reminder.
A self-made man, Jim worked while attending college at UCLA and then Loyola Law School, earning his JD in only 3 years of a 4 year night school program. He was the youngest in his class, graduating at the age of 23. As early as age 15, Jim expressed an interest in becoming a lawyer. Asked why he chose law as a career, Jim says without hesitation, “I wanted to help people”. But he adds that the “risk factor” inherent in the legal profession was also a draw; not surprising for someone raised in an environment that espoused challenges being met with nothing less than a winner’s attitude.
At 20, Jim worked at the DA’s office in the PR division and, while in law school, became summer clerk and senior clerk. Upon passing the bar exam in 1974, he joined the D.A.’s office as a deputy, where he stayed for almost 3 years. During one year as a DA, he, Michael Abuoff, and Greg Marcus tried 93 cases, winning all but 3.
With his strong work ethic and will to succeed, Jim found little difficulty finding clients after he left the DA’s office, but learned how hard it is to win as a defense attorney.
Jim has had three significant trials that have had a great impact on him and his career.
People v. Grant was an attempted murder prosecution commonly referred to as the “Vigilante Case.” This prosecution involved a defendant who shot a drug dealer in the back. Jim presented a “defense of neighborhood” defense, arguing an individual had the right to protect his neighborhood when the police could not. Jim convinced the judge to give the jury a modified jury instruction, allowing him an opportunity to make his argument and obtain a not guilty verdict for his client.
People v. Hanoukai involved the first degree murder prosecution of an Iranian man who admittedly beat his wife to death. Jim presented the testimony of a sociologist regarding the patriarchal Iranian Jewish society, and convinced the judge to modify the “heat of passion” jury instruction, allowing the jury to consider a defendant’s cultural background in determining the reasonableness of the “heat of passion” argument and adequate legal provocation. In this case, as well as People v. Grant, Jim’s chosen defense has been cited in other criminal cases and has become an accepted defense in several jurisdictions.
U.S. v. Bajakajian, the most important case to date, was argued and won before the United States Supreme Court. In this case the Supreme Court established for the first time in our Nation’s history, a standard for applying the 8 th Amendment’s “Excessive Fines” clause to forfeitures. In so doing, the Court ordered the return of almost $400,000.00 in currency seized from Jim’s client, which the Government fought to keep, even after it was proven the currency was from a legitimate source and intended for a legitimate purpose. This case has had a dramatic effect on new legislation, and has significantly curtailed the Government’s abuse of forfeiture laws.
Jim has been formally recognized by the United States Congress, California Legislature, County of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, The San Fernando Valley Bart Association (Professional Achievement Award), Los Angeles Criminal Court’s Bar Association (President’s Award), and California Lawyers of the Year Award for 1998 & 2004. He has served on the Board of Directors for Cri-Help, been the president of the San Fernando Valley Criminal Bar Association, and has been a state and national delegate for the Democratic Party.
Contact the Law Offices of James Blatt.
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