Growing up playing football in Punxsutawney, Penn., James E. Blatt never imagined that one day he’d help rewrite the U.S. Constitution. But that’s exactly what he did in 1997, when Blatt successfully argued U.S. v. Bajakajian in front of the United States Supreme Court. The case involved a man departing Los Angeles International Airport for Cyprus who didn’t report to customs officials that he was carrying more $350,000 in cash, violating a federal law requiring more than $10,000 be reported. Bajakajian pleaded guilty to failure to report, which carried a $5,000 fine. The government, however, confiscated all of the money, which a lower court found violated the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution banning excessive fines. The case was elevated to the Supreme Court, which ruled 5-4 in favor. The ruling established a new standard for applying the Eighth Amendment excessive fines clause to forfeitures. Blatt downplays his role in the case. “I had a good team and some good training,” he said. These days, Blatt is preparing another high court case, this one in front of the state Supreme Court. He represents Jesse James Hollywood, the West Hills native and alleged drug dealer being tried for kidnapping and murdering an acquaintance seven years ago in Santa Barbara. Hollywood’s role in the case was the subject of the recent film “Alpha Dog.” Before the film was released, it was discovered that Santa Barbara County Deputy District Attorney Ronald J. Zonen acted as a consultant and provided criminal files for producers. Blatt argued Zonen’s action was improper and tainted the juror pool. He successfully persuaded the Appellate Court to have Zonen thrown off the case; now Blatt is taking the case to the Supreme Court to have the entire D.A.’s office taken off as well. “What we’re saying is, when you do something like that, that’s a conflict of interest,” Blatt said. “You shouldn’t be on the case.” Blatt, who moved to Los Angeles at 18 and graduated from Loyola Law School, also has a history of tackling complex cases with clever tactics. He once won seven straight jury trials, a “hot steak” as he called it. In People v. Grant, he defended a man who shot a neighborhood drug dealer in the back. Blatt argued the man had the right to protect his neighborhood when police did not, which resulted in a not-guilty jury vote. He also redefined the traditional defense framework in People v. Hanoukai, when he defended an Iranian husband who beat his wife to death. Blatt presented testimony from a sociologist that shed light on the patriarchal Iranian-Jewish society and convinced the judge to alter the standard “heat of passion” jury instruction. The change has become a recognized legal defense in several jurisdictions. Michael G. Raab, a parter in Blatt’s Encino office, said Blatt is the model defense attorney and takes his job seriously every day. “He has the determination of a bulldog,” Raab said. “Being a criminal defense lawyer is something that he cherishes. It’s something that he is honored to be.” It’s a trait that Blatt said he learned from the football field: prepare well and work hard. “You want to make the winning effort,” he said. “You want to have a standard of excellence in every aspect of the trial.” Chris Coates
